The Ancients The Birth of Money
44 snips
Dec 19, 2024 
In this enlightening discussion, Alan Ereira, a TV producer, author, and history professor, unravels the profound impact of gold on civilization. He takes listeners on a journey from the Varna Culture's early use of gold to the revolutionary minting of coins by King Croesus. Ereira examines the intertwined evolution of trade and currency while detailing the first-ever financial crash in history. The conversation highlights how gold transitioned from a status symbol to a backbone of economic systems and its lasting legacy in today's financial landscape.
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Varna Culture's Use of Gold
- The Varna culture (4700 BC) used gold, not as currency, but for status and possibly spiritual purposes.
- One prominent burial contained a gold headdress, scepter, and disc, resembling later royal regalia.
Gold's Connection to Eternity
- Gold's incorruptibility linked it to eternity, making it suitable for spiritual purposes.
- Gold's unique properties inspired reverence.
Hammurabi's Sun Disks
- Hammurabi gave out gold "sun disks" in the second millennium BC, possibly the first gold payment to mercenaries.
- These disks had a specified value, but it was deliberately inflated.
