Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot, lucre, moolah, readies, the wherewithal. In the ascent of money, economist niall ferguson works through some history that created todays money system, visiting the locations where key. For example, as a follower of paul krugmans economics blog, i know at least one thing ferguson says about him is a lie that has been perpetuated by. The film was written and presented by the bestselling author, economist, historian, and harvard professor niall ferguson.
Through fergusons expert lens, familiar historical landmarks appear in a new and sharper financial focus. There are only multiple, unforeseeable futures, which will never lose their. In the ascent of money, niall ferguson seeks to explain the financial history of the world, exploring how our complex system of global finance evolved, how money has shaped the course of human affairs and how the mechanics of this economic system work to create seemingly unlimited wealth or catastrophic loss. The ascent of money confederate money backed by cotton, what went wrong. Watch the twohour the ascent of money ascent of money. For millions of people, the global economic collapse has generated curiosity about how money systems actually work, as opposed to how theyre portrayed, especially when so many financial pundits seem to be baffled. Niall ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of finance, from its origins in ancient mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls planet finance. In the fourhour version of the ascent of money, historian and author niall ferguson seeks to explain the financial history of the world, exploring how. Et on pbs and online, this groundbreaking fourpart series examines the creation of the economic system by taking viewers on a global trek through the history of money. Niall ferguson takes us on a historical adventure through the ascent of money, applying fact and opinion throughout. But in the ascent of money, niall ferguson shows that finance is, in fact, the foundation of human progress. Rapid ascent definition and meaning collins english. July 8th, 2009 watch the twohour the ascent of money in the ascent of money, niall ferguson traces the evolution of money and demonstrates that financial history is. A financial history of the world by niall ferguson epsd.
It examines the long history of money, credit, and banking book. Like there really is no such thing as the future, singular. The ascent of money, a twohour documentary based on the newlyreleased book, premiered on tuesday, january on pbs. The ascent of money notes the ascent of money chapter.
The financial history of the world 2009 starring niall ferguson and george soros on dvd and bluray. Watch the pbs program based on the ascent of money. A financial history of the world is a 2008 book by harvard professor niall ferguson, and an adapted television documentary for channel 4 uk and pbs us, which in 2009 won an international emmy award. The north held most of the industrialized states and the south almost all the agrarian ones. Through fergusons expert lens, familiar historical landmarks appear in a. The ascent of money is an attempt to provide context for this crisis. The ascent of money had a subtle rightwingconservative bent to the point that as the events became more recent, i found more and more questionable facts and rightwing talking points. The ascent of money chapter 2 notes the bond market has a huge impact on the rest of the economy bond prices dictate interest rates, if the prices of bonds fall then the interest rate rises the first bonds were seen in the italian renaissance when city states would borrow from their citizens to hire mercenary groups nathan rothschild was a financial mastermind of the 1800s. The ascent of money a financial history of the world. The ascent of money has been essential to the ascent of man. In the ascent of money, economist niall ferguson works through some history that created todays money system, visiting the locations where key events took. The 10th anniversary edition, with new chapters on the crash, chimerica, and cryptocurrency in this updated edition, niall ferguson brings his classic financial history of the world up to the present day, tackling the populist backlash that followed the 2008 crisis, the descent of chimerica into a trade war, and the advent of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, with his. Moneys prophets, 17981848 niall ferguson in his rich and nuanced portrait of the remarkable, elusive rothschild family, oxford scholar and bestselling author niall ferguson uncovers the secrets behind the familys phenomenal economic success. The ascent of money is an account of moolah from the incas to the credit crunch and, with it, an argument for the centrality of finance.
Whats more, he reveals financial history as the essential back story behind all history. Watch the ascent of money season 1, episode 3 part 3. The ascent of money has been essential to the ascent of man, he writes, making a conscious reference to the bbc production he loved as a. Niall ferguson shows that finance is the foundation of human progress and reveals financial history as the essential backstory behind all history the evolution of credit and debt was as important as any technological innovation in the rise of civilization, from ancient babylon to the silver mines of bolivia. More importantly the north had under its control all of the original gold supply which backed its form of currency at that time. The ascent of money reveals finance as the backbone of history, casting a new light on familiar events. This is the ascent of money by miguel aldama on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Bitcoins price is measured against fiat currency, such as american dollars btcusd.
The ascent of a person to a more important or successful position is the process of. As the world continues to struggle to find its footing amid rising unemployment, constricted credit and crumbling banks and industries raising questions about how the economic system collapsed pbs presents niall fergusons ascent of money. The ascent of money a financial history of the world by. The book deals with the rise of money as a trade form.
With gareth armstrong, niall ferguson, richard lintern. In the final episode of fourpart the ascent of money ser. Professor niall ferguson examines the origins of the pillars of the worlds financial system, and how behind every great historical phenomenon empires and republics, wars and revolutions. In fairness, ferguson recognises that and his pages are hot with proofstage tyremarks, as he goes into violent reverse to escape from under collapsing arguments. I hope that, for those of you baffled or at least somewhat disconcerted by what. The very title of his book, the ascent of money, is a screaming sell signal, like the shoeshine boys trading stock tips at the door to grand central station in new york in 1929.