Evolution of the Banking System
1. Earliest banking systems: Grain, food, and livestock
2. Banking was done before there were coins by exchanging grain and other commodities
3. Banking in the Roman Empire: Rome's first banks were established in the temples dedicated to the old Gods
4. In ancient Rome, banking played a significant role in the growth of trade and commerce and the emergence of wealth
5. European Monarchs Discover Easy Money: Due to multiple pointless wars, Philip II of Spain managed to drown his kingdom in debt in 1557, leading to the first national bankruptcy and the second, third, and fourth
6. Merchant Banks: Big merchant banks gained significant economic and political power, taking over most national banking responsibilities and providing loans and corporate finance
7. J.P. Morgan & Co. and the 1907 Bank Panic: In 1907, the Bank Panic occurred due to the collapse of a copper trust, leading to a run on banks and stock sell-offs
8. Fed Formation: The formation of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1913 marked the end of private bankers, but financial and political power remained concentrated on Wall Street even with the creation of the Fed
9. Rise of modern banking: ATMs were created in the 1960s to enable depositors to access their money after business hours, and more recently, with the aid of the internet, electronic payment systems have changed modern commerce