Around 6,000 B.C.E, settlements in the fertile crescent popped up. These settlements grew in size and wealth and soon grew to large cities. As larger civilizations and empires conquered these cities and more people moved into them, trade became very important. Many nations, such as the Phoenicians, got very wealthy on trade. The main way trade was done in this time was through barter, which means exchanging one good or service for another. This was fine as a system, but it needed an improvement, as multiple problems arose such as: it would be hard to acquire a good from someone if they didn’t want your good, some goods can spoil easily, etc. This was why money was so important in the Ancient world.

Money made civilizations in the fertile crescent very rich. This new found wealth let civilizations invest in large projects. Money also let civilizations trade with each other, which led to currency spreading around different countries.(Mary Mellor)