Part 3/13:
Andreas takes us on a journey through the ancient origins of money, asserting its evolutionary importance. Money, he claims, is one of humanity's oldest technologies—older even than fire or the wheel—and functions as a form of language. Early forms of money consisted of shells, beads, feathers, and bones—scarce objects with primary value used for expressing worth across primitive societies.
He details four major technological revolutions:
- Precious Metals and Coinage: The earliest adaptation, dating back to Babylonian times, allowed for standardized, portable, and easily identifiable tokens of value. These coins with engraved faces not only facilitated trade but also embedded societal authority into currency.