What is money?
🎯 导读
- Introduction 1: This article explores the evolution of money from ancient bartering practices to its modern digital form, highlighting how cultural and personal experiences influence our attitudes toward financial matters.
- Introduction 2: Key points include the historical development of currency, the shift towards digital payments, and the emotional impact of money on individuals and societies.
- Introduction 3: The text examines the transformation of monetary systems from tangible objects to cryptocurrencies, discussing both opportunities and challenges in today's evolving financial landscape.
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Throughout human history, people have bartered or traded for things they needed. Mesopotamian tribes traded for weapons, while the Romans traded for salt. The Silk Road allowed for goods like fur, spices and gems to travel between the east and the west. These exchanges were happening all over the world, objects that were small and hard to break, like cowry shells are gold nuggets, help to make transactions easier, so they started being used as currency.
Money slowly became a placeholder for value. Over the years, it's taken on many forms, from coins to leather to paper. Of course, in order for people to want to use it, the currency had to be trusted or issued by an institution that was, this could be a trade guild, a bank or a governmant. Otherwise it would just be worthless, people didn't just spend money on goods either. To this day, whatever holds value is worth money.
Workers are paid for thier time and skill, people pay for access or for entertainment. More recently, money is becoming something we often don't physically see or even hold in our hand. The world of payments and banking has largely gone digital. New types of currency continue to pop up, up like cryptocurrency. In this new evolving world of digital money, many people are willing to take risks. There are new markets to invest in where we use money to make more money. Others hold on to their hard earned cash. Cash and worry about what the future might bring.
But why are people's attitudes about money so different? Maybe you know what it's like to struggle and not have enough money, or maybe you've seen family members fight over larger amounts of it. These types of experiences shape who we are and how we feel about money in general. But we shouldn't let our emotional connections get in the way of our understanding. So the more you learn about money, regardless of your circumstances, the more you'll understand how to use it in order to live a better life, whatever that may look like.
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/**
* @type {import('vitepress').UserConfig}
*/
const config = {
// ...
}
export default configimport type { UserConfig } from 'vitepress'
const config: UserConfig = {
// ...
}
export default config🔥 生词
💡 New words/sentences
throughout
- uk /θruːˈaʊt/ us /θruːˈaʊt/
- preposition, adverb:
in every part, or during the whole period of time - People throughout the country are out of work.
- The school has been repainted throughout.
barter
- 英 /ˈbɑːtə(r)/ 美 /ˈbɑːrtər/
- verb [ I or T ]:
to exchange goods for other things rather than for money - He bartered his stamp collection for her comics.
- noun [ U ]:
the act or system of bartering goods - The currency has lost so much of its value that barter has become the preferred way of doing business.
trade
Mesopotamian
- 美 [ˌmesəupə´teɪmjə] 英 [ˌmesəupə´teɪmjə]
- noun 美索不达米亚人:
an ancient historical area in what is now Iraq and surrounding areas, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
tribe
- 英 /traɪb/ 美 /traɪb/
- noun [ C, + sing/pl verb ]:
a group of people, often of related families, who live together, sharing the same language, culture, and history, especially those who do not live in towns or cities - a tribe of Amazonian Indians
- noun:
a large family or other group that someone belongs to - We invited Carol's sisters and brothers and their families - the whole Cassidy tribe.
Romans
- 英 /ˈrəʊ.mənz/ 美 /ˈroʊ.mənz/
- noun [ C, usually plural ]:
the ancient people of Rome The Romans built the Colosseum in Rome.
salt
- 英 /sɒlt/ 美 /sɔlt/
- noun [ U ]:
a common white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used especially to add flavor to food or to preserve it Add a pinch of salt to the soup.
Silk Road
- 英 /sɪlk rəʊd/ 美 /sɪlk roʊd/
- noun:
the ancient trade routes between China and the Mediterranean Sea The Silk Road facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas between East and West.
fur
- 英 /fɜːr/ 美 /fɝːr/
- noun [ C, U ]:
the soft thick hair that covers the bodies of some animals, or the hair-covered skin(s) of animals, removed from their bodies She wore a coat made of fur.
spices
- 英 /ˈspaɪsɪz/ 美 /ˈspaɪsɪz/
- noun [ plural ]:
a substance made from a plant, used to give a special flavor to food Cinnamon and cardamom are common spices used in cooking.
gems
- 英 /dʒemz/ 美 /dʒemz/
- noun [ plural ]:
a valuable stone, especially one that is used in jewelry Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are precious gems.
cowry
- 英 /ˈkaʊri/ 美 /ˈkaʊri/
- noun [ C ]:
a small tropical sea shell that was once used as money in parts of Africa and Asia In some cultures, cowry shells were used as a form of currency.
shell
- 英 /ʃel/ 美 /ʃel/
- noun [ C ]:
the hard outer covering of something, especially nuts, eggs, and some animals He collected seashells on the beach.
nuggets
- 英 /ˈnʌɡɪt/ 美 /ˈnʌɡɪt/
- noun [ C ]:
a small lump of something, especially gold Gold nuggets were found in the river.
transactions
- 英 /trænˈzækʃənz/ 美 /trænˈzækʃənz/
- noun [ C, usually plural ]:
an act of buying or selling something; a business deal Online transactions are becoming increasingly popular.
currency
- 英 /ˈkʌr.ən.si/ 美 /ˈkɝː.ən.si/
- noun [ U ]:
the money that is used in a particular country at a particular time The euro is the currency used in many European countries.
leather
- 英 /ˈleð.ər/ 美 /ˈlɛð.ɚ/
- noun [ U ]:
animal skin treated in order to preserve it, and used to make shoes, bags, clothes, equipment, etc. He bought a jacket made of leather.
institution
- 英 /ˌɪn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃən/ 美 /ˌɪn.stɪˈtuː.ʃən/
- noun [ C ]:
a large and important organization, such as a university or bank Harvard University is a prestigious educational institution.
guild
- 英 /ɡɪld/ 美 /ɡɪld/
- noun [ C ]:
an organization of people who do the same job or have the same interests The guild of blacksmiths ensured high standards of craftsmanship.
cryptocurrency
- 英 /ˌkrɪp.təʊˈkʌr.ən.si/ 美 /ˌkrɪp.toʊˈkɜː.rən.si/
- noun [ C, U ]:
a digital currency that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of a central bank Bitcoin is a well-known cryptocurrency.
circumstances
- 英 /ˈsɜː.kəm.stæns/ 美 /ˈsɝː.kəm.stæns/
- noun [ plural ]:
the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event, or an action Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event has been canceled.