The History of Money in the Renaissance (Pre-Read)

During the Renaissance in Europe, banking flourished as trade expanded. Italian city-states like Florence and Venice became financial hubs, pioneering modern banking practices such as double-entry bookkeeping and letters of credit. The rise of banking families like the Medici and the Fugger facilitated economic growth by providing capital for ventures and facilitating international trade. Banking innovations fueled the Renaissance economy and contributed significantly to Europe's transition from feudalism to capitalism.

Please read in advance chapters 4 (Knights of Commerce), 5 (The Renaissance), and 18 (The Age of Money) from The History of Money: From Sandstone to Cyberspace by Jack Weatherford.

The PDF can be found here. Please keep in mind that the last chapter (5 pages) was written in the late 90s.

Other discussions:

• Bentham's Panopticon and Foucault on Thursday June 6
• The Enchantments of Mammon on Wednesday June 5