Sunday 23 November 2008

Financial History- Dull? Yeah Right!

I'm just blogging to say I recently watched a fantastic new history series on Channel 4. In 'The Ascent of Money' (Mondays 8pm Ch 4) Prof Niall Ferguson explores the roots of banking and monetary systems. His argument is that behind every important historical event there is usually a financial factor at play.

Ferguson travels the globe and history(from the Ancient Aztecs and the merchants of Italy to modern day lone-shark run Shettleston) like a fiscal Dr Who to explain the evolution of the world's banking systems.

I know, on paper this sounds like the most boring Open University style documentary series ever. But give it a chance, it's quick-paced entertaining and Ferguson's presentation made this potentially dry series very enthralling indeed.

Up next another list.

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