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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ Mobile

barter

Tulips carried astonishing value in the 1600s. Source: master1305 / Adobe Stock.

How Tulips Became the Bitcoin of the 1600s (Video)

In the 1600s, before Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, Europe experienced a unique phenomenon known as tulip mania . Amsterdam's wealthy merchants assigned astonishing value to exotic tulips, reaching up...
Eel depicted in a medieval manuscript. Source: Public domain

Eels Were Used to Pay the Rent in the Middle Ages!

Before coinage became common, people in medieval England would pay their rent using an array of everyday items. Amongst these was the remarkably unattractive, and underappreciated, wormlike eel! Few...
The ancient two-shekel weight, recently found near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, next to a modern Israeli two-shekel coin.  Source: Shai Halevi / Israel Antiquities Authority

Two-Shekel Weight Found In Jerusalem Tells Us About Ancient Economy

Small objects from the distant past can tell us so much about ancient societies and daily life in those cultures. A two-shekel weight from the Biblical period recently found in Jerusalem is one of...
Production of salt for the salt trade.

When Salt Was Traded for Gold: The Salt Trade of West Africa that Built Kingdoms and Spread Culture

In West Africa during the Medieval period, salt was traded for gold. This may seem astonishing as salt is a cheap commodity in today’s society. It may be added that salt is easily available today...
Barter, Bills and Banknotes: The 5,000 Year History of Money

From Barter to Bitcoins: The 5,000 Year History of Money

Money has come a long way in 5,000 years. While people once bartered for the items they desired, today people are buying and trading in cryptocurrencies like the bitcoin. In ancient times, people did...