CoursesThe History of Money: From Barter to Bitcoin
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The History of Money: From Barter to Bitcoin

Trace the origins of money from ancient barter systems through gold standards, fiat currencies, and the emergence of digital money. Understand the fundamental principles that define sound money and how they apply today.

4 modules · 16 lessons8 hoursBy FTH Trading
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Course Modules

Module 01

Origins of Exchange

4 lessons

How humans first traded value

1
Barter and the Problem of Double Coincidence
15m
quiz
2
Commodity Money: Shells, Salt, and Cattle
12m
reading
3
The Invention of Coinage in Lydia
18m
quiz
4
Trade Routes and the Spread of Currency
14m
reading
Module 02

The Age of Paper and Banking

4 lessons

From goldsmiths to central banks

1
Paper Money and the Promise System
20m
quiz
2
Fractional Reserve Banking Explained
22m
quiz
3
The Gold Standard Era: 1870–1971
25m
quiz
4
Nixon Shock and the Petrodollar System
20m
quiz
Module 03

The Digital Revolution

4 lessons

Electronic money and the path to crypto

1
Credit Cards, Wire Transfers, and Digital Payments
18m
reading
2
The Cypherpunks and Digital Cash Experiments
20m
quiz
3
Bitcoin: The First Sound Digital Money
30m
quiz
4
What Makes Money 'Sound'? The Six Properties
20m
quiz
Module 04

Monetary Lessons and Future Outlook

4 lessons

What history tells us about tomorrow

1
The Pattern of Monetary Collapses
22m
quiz
2
Hyperinflation Case Studies: Weimar, Zimbabwe, Venezuela
25m
quiz
3
Hard Money vs. Soft Money: The Ongoing Battle
18m
quiz
4
Positioning for the Next Monetary Transition
20m
quiz

Topics Covered

Macro Systems
Digital Assets