Silver and silver mining – the history
Silver mining slaves at Laurion, near Athens Why did people want silver? People first mined silver in the Bronze Age. Like gold, silver is a great way to help people trade. [...]
Silver mining slaves at Laurion, near Athens Why did people want silver? People first mined silver in the Bronze Age. Like gold, silver is a great way to help people trade. [...]
History of gold - a bust of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamon When did people first use gold? People have been using gold to make jewelry since the Stone Age. You can find it [...]
The Roman economy: a Roman olive press mosaic (200-250 AD) now in St. Germain en Laye, France Farming in the Roman economy Most people in the Roman world were farmers. Some [...]
Basilica Aemilia, Rome What is a basilica? Sometimes the Romans had things they wanted to do in groups, but inside, out of the weather. Then they met in a basilica [...]
Jewish money-lenders in medieval France - Jews in medieval Europe A hard time for the Jews The Middle Ages in Europe were a difficult time for the Jews. Many Jews lived [...]
Medieval economy: A carpenter works in his shop. Collapse of trade After the fall of Rome, people in Europe used money less than they had before. Instead they mostly lived on what they [...]
Lakshmi (Sanchi Stupa, central India, 200s BC) What is she the god of? Lakshmi was (and is) a Hindu god of light, wealth, good luck and success. Her name comes from the Sanskrit word laks, [...]
Harappan seal ca. 2000 BC - before there were coins in India Clay seals in India About 2500 BC, people in northern India started to use seals to mark their possessions. That was not [...]
Greek Olympic events - Men's footrace (Athens, ca. 530 BC) A short foot race At first, the only athletic competition at the Olympics was a single short foot race, 170 [...]
Silver coins from ancient Thebes Why are Thebes's coins different? Each Greek city-state minted their own kind of coin, just like countries mint their own coins today. Coins help to [...]