Medieval History
As European leaders meet today in a desperate attempt to prevent a colossal euro collapse, a look back at history shows that we have learned little from the past.
Excessive debt accumulation, structural weakness and poor management were responsible for economic crashes and collapses since the medieval invention of banking by the Italians, who came up with the deposit account, double entry bookkeeping and the line of credit.
"The word bank comes from the Italian, named after the 'banco' or bench on which merchants traded. And bankrupt originates from the practice of breaking the bench of an insolvent banker," said art historian Ludovica Sebregondi, co-curator of "Money and Beauty," a perfectly timed exhibition which runs in Florence until January 22.
The exhibition also shows that words such as bankrupt and risk were pronounced in Italy centuries before the Occupy Wall Street movement took hold.
Three powerful 14th century Florentine banks, the Bardi, Peruzzi and Acciaiuoli, collapsed in the 1340s.
Click here to read this article from Discovery News
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The University of York?s historic King?s Manor is hosting a European photographic exhibition depicting the day-to-day work of archaeologists. The public exhibition Working in Archaeology, which runs from 9 January to 6 March, features photographs by Belgian...
- Jesus' Great Grandmother Was St. Ismeria According To Medieval Manuscript
The great grandmother of Jesus was a woman named Ismeria, according to Florentine medieval manuscripts analyzed by a historian. The legend of St. Ismeria, presented in the current Journal of Medieval History, sheds light on both the Biblical Virgin Mary's...
- Bank Accounts For American Residents After Fatca
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- In Memoriam Miklós Boskovits
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Medieval History
Euro Crisis Echoed in Renaissance History
As European leaders meet today in a desperate attempt to prevent a colossal euro collapse, a look back at history shows that we have learned little from the past.
Excessive debt accumulation, structural weakness and poor management were responsible for economic crashes and collapses since the medieval invention of banking by the Italians, who came up with the deposit account, double entry bookkeeping and the line of credit.
"The word bank comes from the Italian, named after the 'banco' or bench on which merchants traded. And bankrupt originates from the practice of breaking the bench of an insolvent banker," said art historian Ludovica Sebregondi, co-curator of "Money and Beauty," a perfectly timed exhibition which runs in Florence until January 22.
The exhibition also shows that words such as bankrupt and risk were pronounced in Italy centuries before the Occupy Wall Street movement took hold.
Three powerful 14th century Florentine banks, the Bardi, Peruzzi and Acciaiuoli, collapsed in the 1340s.
Click here to read this article from Discovery News
- Emergency Repairs To Medieval Gatehouse Set To Begin
A medieval monastic gatehouse at Pentney Priory in Norfolk, England, is to be saved, following a £200,000 English Heritage grant for emergency structural repairs. The Grade I listed gatehouse which is also a Scheduled Monument has been on the Heritage...
- University Of York Hosts Working In Archaeology Exhibition
The University of York?s historic King?s Manor is hosting a European photographic exhibition depicting the day-to-day work of archaeologists. The public exhibition Working in Archaeology, which runs from 9 January to 6 March, features photographs by Belgian...
- Jesus' Great Grandmother Was St. Ismeria According To Medieval Manuscript
The great grandmother of Jesus was a woman named Ismeria, according to Florentine medieval manuscripts analyzed by a historian. The legend of St. Ismeria, presented in the current Journal of Medieval History, sheds light on both the Biblical Virgin Mary's...
- Bank Accounts For American Residents After Fatca
One of the things I can buy with ease now, wipes clearly designed for Nutella crêpesI seldom provide practical advice in these pages, but after the 6-week saga / marathon / epic tale of opening a bank account... as American citizens... who are also...
- In Memoriam Miklós Boskovits
Miklós Boskovits in 2005 I learned with sadness of the passing of Miklós Boskovits, perhaps the most eminent art historian of Hungarian origin. The sad news was announced by Villa I Tatti in Florence, where Boskovits had been a fellow back in the...