Economy and Business in History

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This semester our seminar focuses on the history of money in economies and societies across time and space. We will explore key developments in the evolution of money and finance in world history, starting with finance as it emerged with the first civilizations of the Near East in the third millennium BCE to the recent debates about cryptocurrencies -- in short, from Babylon to blockchain. Through a wide variety of readings, short lectures, and well prepared discussions, we will explore all aspects of money and finance as tools and technologies to manage the economics of time and risk in different cultural settings. Topics include the role of money and finance as contributors to urban growth and social specialization across civilizations, the evolution of concepts such as investment, trust, and interest, and more generally how money and finance allowed people past (and present) to think about the future. This course is restricted to juniors and seniors.