How Did Ancient Civilizations Trade Without Modern Money?

Imagine you're a farmer and want to get some tools, but you don't have any money. You might give your extra grain to the blacksmith in exchange for a new plow! That's bartering, trading one thing for another.

How It Worked

People used what they had to trade for what they needed. A potter might get cloth from weavers, and a farmer could trade fish with a hunter. They didn't need coins or paper money, just goods that were useful to each other.

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Examples

A farmer gives extra grain to a blacksmith in exchange for a new plow.
A weaver trades cloth with a potter for clay bowls.
A fisherman gives some fish to a farmer for grain.

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Categories: History · trade,ancient civilizations,barter system