Money is a product that is the universal value equivalent of all other goods and services. Although, according to the saying, happiness is not in money, their absence as such hindered the progress of human society. It is not possible to say exactly when the very first money arose, but the history of their invention and development is known.
Instruction manual
1
In a primitive society, the universal equivalent of the value of all existing goods did not exist for a long time. People lived by hunting and gathering, and simply shared with each other. Later, with the advent of cattle breeding and farming, a direct exchange arose.
2
Then a craft was born, and the role of exchange in the development of society and production increased significantly. In parallel with this, society began to change radically: from the primitive communal to slaveholding. Products began to be produced specifically for exchange, the exchange process itself was incredibly complicated due to the abundance and variety of goods and the lack of their equivalent. The lack of money hindered the development of both production and society itself.
3
The allocation of a particular product as a universal equivalent was not the result of an agreement, but spontaneous. In different parts of the globe, completely different goods began to fulfill the function of money: fur, cocoa beans, cattle, salt, slaves, etc. But one way or another, the most valuable and rare commodity has always become the universal equivalent, often obtained from other tribes, brought from afar, etc.
4
In the course of history, some equivalents replaced others, until, finally, people made money with metal. At first, the money was iron, then copper. There are also references to lead and tin. The turning point came when money began to be made from noble metals: gold and silver. Money circulation has become elastic. In the VII century. BC. in Lydia, minted coins appeared in circulation. And only at the beginning of the IX century. AD the first paper money was invented in China. Moreover, in Europe (including Russia) they became widespread only in the 18th century, and throughout the world in the 19th century. In Russia, paper money began to be used in 1769, and they were called bank notes.
