The Ascent of Money.

Description

In his book *The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World*, Niall Ferguson traces the history of money to explore the development of the economy, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest developments in the world of finance.
Money is a controversial subject. For some, it is an end in itself; for others, a means to an end; for some, the key to all good things; and for others, the root of all evil. In his book, Ferguson presents compelling evidence of the practical utility of money from a historian’s perspective. He demonstrates how money became the foundation of human progress. Moreover, the history of finance is presented in this book as the foundation of all historical events. The author not only reveals how money worked in the past; he is also concerned with contemporary issues. For example, why the free market fails to cope with financial crises, and what causes the problems in the mortgage system.
What is money, and when did it become what we know it as today? What do banks do? What is the difference between shares and bonds? Why buy insurance or property? And what exactly does a hedge fund do? Ferguson explains key concepts relating to the world of finance clearly and concisely, and provides the reader with new tools for understanding global historical processes.