The Lab With Brad Brad Barton

It worked, until it didn’t



Join us for the Mississippi bubble, when a Scottish gambler and convicted murderer gain control of virtually all French finances.



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Here’s an article about John Law and the Mississippi bubble.



John Law and the Mississippi Bubble: 1718-1720



Here’s a video on the same thing.



John Law and the Mississippi Bubble



And here’s a much longer, and more detailed video.



John Law - The First Financial Engineer - A History of Paper Money and The Mississippi Bubble

It’s the beginning of banks baby!



Join us for the start of banks and banking, with a side trip to how US money is printed.



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Here’s an article about the printing of money in the US.



Journey to Circulation



Here’s a bit about how the federal reserve decided how much new money to order for 2024.



Federal Reserve Board - Currency Print Orders



Here’s a nice outline of the history of banking.



The history of banking from ancient times to now



And here’s a video, obviously meant for children, about how banking got started.



HISTORY OF BANKS

Pick a card



Join us for the beginnings of paper money and fiat currency.



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Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.



Take 159 of Episode One: Got Milk?





Here are a couple of articles about the use of playing cards as money.



A Good Deal



Playing-Card Money



And here’s a video about the invention of paper money.



Inventing Paper Money

Coin flips and clips



Join us as we attempt to figure out where the first coins came from.



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Here are a couple of things on Roman coins.



Coin Production in the Roman World



Ancient Roman Coins: More Than Just Money



Rome: A Thousand Years of Monetary History



And here’s a bit about what might be the first ever coins.



The Coinage of Ephesus

Nothing to sneeze at



If you don’t use gold silver or coins, what does one use for money?



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Here are several links with information, and differing notions, on the sale of Manhattan Island.



Keep the Change: The Beads that Bought Manhattan



Was Manhattan really sold for $24 worth of beads and trinkets?



The Beads That Did Not Buy Manhattan Island



Here’s more about the use of cacao beans as money.



The Maya civilization used chocolate as money



Chocolate Currency?



And here’s a little something about black pepper, and how it was used as money.



Black Pepper

Why money?



We take a look at economic activity by nonhumans, and the Incas, with a large empire that never used money.



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Here are some links about gift giving in the animal kingdom.



Do Animals Give Gifts?



Why Dolphins Bring Humans “Gifts” From the Sea at Australian Café



Gift giving crows



And here’s more info about the Incas, and the large empire they controlled that never used money.



Inka Economy



Economy of the Inca Empire