Money: A History [Paperback]

Jonathan Williams (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1998

Money: A History examines the origins, spread and cultural diversity of money throughout the world. From the exchange systems of earliest times to the increasingly cashless society of today, money and currency is set against a background of broader issues such as moral, political and religious attitudes to money in different cultures. Coin specialists from the British Museum trace the development of monetary systems from the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt to the invention of coinage in Lydia in the 7th century BC and its dissemination throughout the Greek and Roman empires. They consider money in the medieval West and the Islamic lands, in the ancient civilizations of India and China, and in the early modern period in the West. The book also examines the consequences of the globalization of the world monetary economy in the 19th and 20th centuries from more than a purely Western perspective.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

An untold number of books have chronicled--and even pictured--the history of money. These range from scholarly economic treatises to lavishly illustrated works to John Kenneth Galbraith's sweeping Money: Whence It Came, Where It Went (1975). This new look at the growth and development of ancient monetary systems and the origins of coinage occupies a niche somewhere in between. Williams is a curator in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum and a specialist in Roman and Iron Age coins. In the context of today's increasingly "cashless society," this is a fascinating survey of the roles played by various cultures in the concept and evolution of money and exchange. Williams traces the rise and diversity of various mediums of exchange and coinage in Mesopotamia, ancient Greece and Egypt, the Roman world, medieval Europe, Islamic lands, and Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The text is superbly enhanced by more than 500 illustrations, more than 200 of which will be in color. David Rouse --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This delightful, profusely illustrated, compact history of money is a rarity." --Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312212127
• ISBN-13: 978-0312212124
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,080,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully produced survey., December 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Money: A History (Hardcover)

Written by the coins and medals experts of the British Museum, this handsomely designed work succinctly but comprehensively explores the entire history of money, from its earliest beginnings to the electronic transactions of the 1990's.
The book features over 550 beautiful color and black-and-white illustrations, with essays covering ancient and modern coinage in global perspective, and relating the moral, political, religious, and social meanings inevitably associated with so powerful a force. Highly recommended as an excellent introduction to a complex subject, or just for enjoyable and informative browsing.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

5.0 out of 5 stars Panoramic world history of money, lavishly illustrated, October 27, 2011

By 

E. Jaksetic (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Money: A History (Paperback)

The authors, curators at the British Museum, present a broad review of the history of money that explores the creation, use, and evolution of money from the beginnings of recorded history to the present. While doing so, the authors provide interesting and thoughtful observations about the economic, political, social, religious, and moral aspects of money and its uses around the world throughout history. The book is abundantly illustrated with numerous images of coins and paper money, maps, and artwork that supplement the text very well.

This book is an excellent reference work that is well written and easy to follow. It can be used as a starting point for further research, with an annotated Further Reading section and a guide to money museums around the world. Apart from its utility as a reference work and research resource, the book can be read on its own by any reader interested in taking a look at the history of money. This would be a useful reference book in any community, high school, or college library.

The book was reissued in 2007, on the tenth aniversary of its original publication.