Discover how Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici built a banking empire that dominated European finance from the 15th century onwards.

Discover how the Medici family's banking and commercial activities led to their rise as patrons of the arts and architects of Florence during the Renaissance.

The 14th century saw the rise and fall of medieval finance, with moneylenders like Bardi and Peruzzi dominating Italian commerce before facing defaults and collapse.

Explore the history of loan sharking, its causes, and consequences in various economic contexts, highlighting the role of financial exclusion, usury, and intimidation.

Explore the history of high-interest lending in Britain from ancient times to modern-day issues.

Explore the history of loan sharking in Glasgow's Hillington district through the life of Gerard Law, a notorious loan shark who preyed on vulnerable individuals with high-interest loans.

Explore the history of loan sharks, how they emerged as a response to poverty and unemployment, and the consequences of relying on them.

Explore the world of 16th century Venetian lending practices, where complex relationships between lenders, debtors, and law courts shaped credit markets and influenced social dynamics.

Explore the history of the Venetian Jewish community's precarious existence and negotiations with the Venetian government during the 16th century.

Explore the history of the Jewish presence in Renaissance Venice, from expulsion to segregation and economic significance.

Learn about the 1665 Great Plague's impact on London and its significance as a historical pandemic event that shaped public health policies.

Explore how medieval Christians viewed lending money at interest as a sin, with significant consequences for merchants and traders.

Explore the historical context of The Merchant of Venice, examining the economic role of Jewish moneylenders in 16th-century Venice and their relationships with Christian merchants.

Explore how Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice reflects 14th-century societal attitudes towards Jews, moneylending, and cultural exchange between Italy and England.

Explore how cultural obstacles hindered the emergence of European banking in the late Middle Ages, despite significant economic and social changes.

Discover how Leonardo Fibonacci's introduction of Hindu-Arabic numerals revolutionized European mathematics, impacting economy, science, and trade.

The advent of modern finance in Northern Italy is a pivotal moment in European economic history, marked by the introduction of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system.

The emergence of credit in ancient Mesopotamia, from royal storehouses to scribal accounting, laid the groundwork for modern economies.

Explore the evolution of credit and debt in ancient Mesopotamia, where a complex lending system emerged around 1800 BC.

Explore the history of money from metal to digital, where trust plays a crucial role in currency value.