Question

Which of the following is a reason why the demand for salt was as high as gold at one time? Salt could be used as medicine. Salt was necessary to preserve meat. Mansa Musa gave away so much gold that salt was more rare than gold. People did not know that items could be made out of gold.

Answer 1

One of the reasons why the demand for salt was as high as gold at one time was that "Salt was necessary to preserve meat", since in the days before refrigeration this was essential. 

Answer 2

Salt-cured meat or salted meat is meat or fish preserved or cured with salt. ... Salt inhibits the growth of microorganisms by drawing water out of microbial cells through osmosis. Concentrations of salt up to 20% are required to kill most species of unwanted bacteria.