A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present Day [Paperback]

Glyn Davies (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0708313515 | ISBN-13: 978-0708313510 | Publication Date: March 1996 | Edition: 3rd

This work provides an account of the central importance of money in the ordinary business of different people throughout the ages, from ancient times to the present day. This revised and updated edition also covers: the Barings crisis and the report by the Bank of England on Barings Bank; the state of Japanese banking; changes in the financial scene in the United States; the UK housing market; and the phenomenon of negative equity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" . . . a thoroughly good read . . . " -- Economic Journal

" . . . highly readable . . . " -- Financial Times

"If you want a chronological history of money, here it is. If the development of banking is required, that is available. And if you want to worry about the exploding world population, the book provides some interesting theories . . . " -- Banking World

"This work of monumental proportions is both well conceived and executed . . . Davies writes with a sparkling wit, and his prose is elegant and flowing. This book is a total success. Both undergraduate and graduate students can learn much from this excellent work, which will be useful to economists, political scientists, and even anthropologists." -- Choice

About the Author

Glyn Davies, deceased, was an Emeritus Professor of the University of Wales and Economic Advisor to Julian Hodge Bank Ltd. His former positions include Sir Julian Hodge Professor of Banking and Finance and Head of Department for Economics and Banking, U.W.I.S.T, Cardiff. He was also Senior Economic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Wales and Economic advisor and Director of the Bank of Wales. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 696 pages
• Publisher: University Of Wales Press; 3rd edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0708313515
• ISBN-13: 978-0708313510
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,168,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, fascinating, and fun exploration of money, August 15, 2005

By 

Sharon E. Eicher "SEicher" (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present Day (Paperback)

This is one of my favorite books related to history and economics.

The former Professor Davies has given us a wonderful collection of stories about the original forms of money used and the evolution of money and financial institutions. This is a book that will appeal to a historian, anyone working in the financial sector, anyone interested in economic development or the development of economic and business institutions.

My favorites are the stories about primitive, commodity money, such as giant stones way too big to pack around or exotic teeth! My second favorite stories are those of the Goldsmiths of Engand, who were the first commercial bankers in western Europe. I encourage you to read this book and find your own favorite chapters.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A solid, detailed study bordering on the tedious, December 22, 2007

By 

Olivier Clementin (Paris France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present Day (Paperback)

This history of money is very thorough and detailed. There are good pages on Ancient Greece and Rome which are very interesting and rarely found in similar studies. Yet I found the book disappointing and rather pedestrian, hiding the forest behind the trees. It is very descriptive, with a lot of material about the development of banking regulations, which I found a bit boring. It's also very Anglo-centric: more than half the book is dedicated to British banking and monetary history.

For a "big picture" yet very clear history of money, I found Galbraith's book "Money, whence it came and where it went" much, much better - and much shorter. I also recommend "the Great Wave" by David Hackett Fischer, which, although not as rigorous, is a fascinating read.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best History of Money Yet Published, July 31, 2007

By 

Autodidact Bookiniste "Scientific Explorer" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present Day (Paperback)

Almost all English-language books on the history of money are extremely eurocentric. They are written as if the world outside of western Europe did not have an economy before Europeans colonized it. As far as I know, Glyn Davies has written the only monetary history book that dedicates more than a few token pages to non-Western and pre-modern economic history. It is perhaps the only book on the history of money with a truly global scope.