Inflation and the Fall of Rome - Economic History DOCUMENTARY

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2022
  • How did Ancient Inflation contribute to the Fall of Rome? Install Raid for Free on Mobile and PC: clik.cc/PoaTg and get a special starter pack. Available only for the next 30 days.
    In this animated history documentary we look at the phenomenon of inflation in ancient Rome. We begin with a definition of Inflation and the ways in which today people seek to explain inflation. However due to a lack of detailed economic records with which to calculate precise figures, researchers are instead left to reconstruct the past by way of other indicators. One of the key pieces of data is ancient coinage. Thus our documentary focuses on a retelling of Roman history through the story of its coinage. This gives us a fascinating new look into the Rise and Fall of Rome.
    Credits:
    Research = Chris Das Neves & Dr. Christina Hotalen
    Script = Chris Das Neves & Dr. Christina Hotalen
    Art = Beverly Johnson
    Editing = Penta Limited
    Sources and Suggested Reading:
    "Coinage in the Roman World" by Andrew Burnett
    "The Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins" by David Van Meter
    "The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage" by William E. Metcalf
    "A Manual of Roman Coins" by William Boyne
    #history
    #documentary
    #inflation

ความคิดเห็น • 633

  • @InvictaHistory
    @InvictaHistory  ปีที่แล้ว +54

    How big of a role do you think Inflation played in the fall of Rome? (You can Install Raid for Free on Mobile and PC: clik.cc/PoaTg and get a special starter pack. Available only for the next 30 days)

    • @andredeketeleastutecomplex
      @andredeketeleastutecomplex ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Raid gets you an unsub from me. 👎

    • @LuisAldamiz
      @LuisAldamiz ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Will watch later but I feel that the title (and content) should be rather "Diocletian's austericide, mass deflation, deficit in the luxury trade with India and China... and the fall of Rome".
      My understanding is that inflation (or more exactly: currency debasement as the Spanish and Dacian colonial silver and gold mines were exhauste), while real and somewhat problematic, is overrated. Diocletian's reforms are the real cause of, not just the fall of Rome, but of the Dark Ages altogether. He basically kickstarted the worst historical phase of Europe with those stupid austericidal reforms, incl. inheritance of profession, beginning of serfdom, partition of the Empire and not at all dealing with the real problem: exporting too much silver to Asia (in exchange of stupid useless luxuries like silk, clove and cinnamom).

    • @generalaigullletes5830
      @generalaigullletes5830 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "The miracle came in Emperor Aurelian"
      Gallienus:

    • @rizzmb3016
      @rizzmb3016 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I really like how you tried to keep the modern politics out of your video. There are a lot of parallels. Well done.

    • @rizzmb3016
      @rizzmb3016 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@andredeketeleastutecomplex IT IS IN FACT YA BOI, RAID SHADOW LEGENDS

  • @khalidalali186
    @khalidalali186 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    @20:23 the Roman dude is not freaking out over inflation or the debasement of the currency. He’s freaking out over the existence of a 16th century Ottoman mosque from Bosnia right behind him.

  • @animula6908
    @animula6908 ปีที่แล้ว +749

    Im not worried about inflation when I see it in the news. Im worried about it when I see it in the grocery store.

    • @BLASTIC0
      @BLASTIC0 ปีที่แล้ว +115

      It doesnt usually end up on the news untill after the grocery store… they try to keep a lid on that as long as possible.

    • @Black-Sun_Kaiser
      @Black-Sun_Kaiser ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@BLASTIC0 what I was thinking lol

    • @792slayer
      @792slayer ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Same here. It's getting rough out there.

    • @stomper5432
      @stomper5432 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ur an id!ot

    • @sanctionh2993
      @sanctionh2993 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Prices have been going up in small increments, and/or amount in the package is less, for a few years now.

  • @BornIn1142
    @BornIn1142 ปีที่แล้ว +218

    Alan Moore, the famous comic book writer, has a short story called "The Head of Diocletian," which is about a proud Roman official in Britannia having a crisis when he realizes how worthless their currency is.

    • @hannibalburgers477
      @hannibalburgers477 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@taylorfusher2997 wut

    • @paladro
      @paladro ปีที่แล้ว +14

      all currency is faith based, like some huge ball filled with hope, if it ever stops rolling, it collapses... so, train keeps a rolling.

    • @reeyees50
      @reeyees50 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Guys in that time not only worried about fungiable and transactional money (buying power) ,but hard assests of value (farms, cattle, taxable lands, city taxes, ect)

    • @narrowistheway77
      @narrowistheway77 ปีที่แล้ว

      Alan Moore is demonically possessed

    • @zm1786
      @zm1786 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@paladro precious metals will always be valuable always. It's why Roman's hoarded their own coins. It's why us coins before 1964 are all more valuable than their face value

  • @geordiejones5618
    @geordiejones5618 ปีที่แล้ว +105

    Inflation being an indirect cause of the Second Punic War is super interesting and I've never heard that discussed as part of the tensions involved both internally and externally with Rome.

    • @GeneralBlackNorway
      @GeneralBlackNorway ปีที่แล้ว

      Just like inflation in Germany after WW1 created the environment for the rise of the nazis and subsequent WW2.

    • @xanderunderwoods3363
      @xanderunderwoods3363 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes same, but it makes sense

    • @geordiejones5618
      @geordiejones5618 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      ​@@xanderunderwoods3363Yeah it makes the 2nd Punic War seem unavoidable. Rome and Carthage had nearly bankrupted each other by fighting for so long without any intersession. There wasn't enough silver for both empires to survive so one had to become subordinate.

    • @CivilizedWasteland
      @CivilizedWasteland 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Not related to inflation but this guy kind of touches on the economic situation in the public wars and now I know where all the bronze for the ships came from after watching this video. Kind of interesting to think about.
      th-cam.com/video/EVnXG0Yrfns/w-d-xo.htmlsi=-DCbK54YC4-jhRp-

    • @shaynewheeler9249
      @shaynewheeler9249 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      😢😢😢

  • @celtofcanaanesurix2245
    @celtofcanaanesurix2245 ปีที่แล้ว +78

    this is what we call in the business "foreshadowing"

    • @Irmarinen
      @Irmarinen ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Cue the music!

    • @poetryflynn3712
      @poetryflynn3712 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It should be known that no country on earth today has a currency based in metals - fiat and metal are two fundamentally different systems. The difference between today and the Roman empire is that money is based almost entirely on the government, and due to the way governments work, makes all currency transactions reciprocal between nations.
      In other words, inflation of the currency itself will almost never be an issue. What's happening now is an inflation of essential goods that has more to do with natural events than anything seen in the video. While war is driving the price of certain goods up, climate change and oil both are as well. Things like this mostly affect the lower classes and minorities -- arguably there's more parallels in the Irish Potato Famine than Ancient Rome.

    • @sapare7838
      @sapare7838 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@poetryflynn3712 We found the economists here, gl with that. Common sense does not care for fancy logic. Fiat just means that the value of currency is only held up by the authority of the gov, which is probably the least stable thing in the world to base a currency on.

    • @GeneralBlackNorway
      @GeneralBlackNorway ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@poetryflynn3712 Current inflation is cause by two things:
      1. Reduced supply: The pandemic led governments to shut down economies which stifled production of goods and service.
      2. Increased demand: The central banks went on a printing spree increasing the monetary supply dramatically to loan to governments who used the money to compensate/cover up the effects of shutting down their economies.
      After reopening the economies the extra money put into existence is being spent to relieve pent up demand from the populace, but supply has not had time to catch up leading to increased prices due to both the shortages as well as the increased spending power. In the end supply and demand will stabilize, but everything will end up at a higher price than before the pandemic due to the currency being debased/money supply inflated.
      Central banks are trying hard to reverse, taking currency out of circulation which is pushing the world economies closer to recession and depression due to monetary scarcity and high debt leverage. In other words everyone are going bankrupt as the central banks are rug pulling the economies to meet their inflation targets. Biggest pump and dump in world history is going on as we speak!

    • @poetryflynn3712
      @poetryflynn3712 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@GeneralBlackNorway ​ That''s an out-of-date perspective. Yes, we have a lack of supply, and yes we have central banks trying to "slow the flow", but the slow the flow is not because they printed too much money. The "slow the flow" is because the fluctuating prices of basic goods, again such as food and oil, are on the edge of causing a recession. The "slow the flow" is just a signal for large companies and banks to stop gathering government loans which is the main driver of the economy.
      The thing I'm getting at is that everyone likes to "blame the government", but the reality is in the vast majority of cases it's a lack-of-supply issue and not a government issue for the developed world. As long as the government does essentially the same thing as what other governments in the developed world do it's not a government issue because they all do borderline the same thing to manage the economy. Because they all do very similar things the prices of their currency in comparison stay relatively the same.
      OF course, it depends on where you live though. The US, for example, is privileged despite also having inflation because investors will all leap onto their dollar when the economy goes south. But, again, that's still not a government issue, that's an investor issue.
      My main point is to get people to stop blaming the government when they, for the vast majority of the time including this time, aren't the actual issue. People don't see this because they don't think in a global system which we are in, although, are slowly but surely diverging away from.

  • @RandomlyGeneratedUsername
    @RandomlyGeneratedUsername ปีที่แล้ว +126

    There's a small factual error in the video. Quadrigatus was introduced around 225 BC which was after the First Punic War. Didrachms were minted before this in Rome and Neapolis, but quadrigati specifically only came later. Later Rome also introduced their equivalent of the drachm, half a didrachm or quadrigatus, called the victoriatus. Both quadrigati and victoriati were also minted in a number of mints, not just Rome, and both saw debasement.

    • @aa2339
      @aa2339 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      ​The Arabs also have their 'Sword Dance'.

    • @xanderunderwoods3363
      @xanderunderwoods3363 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Are you sure that was historically proven about the Didrachms? So many archives have been lost over time, pinpoint accuracy can get a bit foggy.

    • @RandomlyGeneratedUsername
      @RandomlyGeneratedUsername ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@xanderunderwoods3363 We don't know with 100% accuracy the exact order in which some of the didrachm variants were minted and at which mints (Rome/Neapolis). We do, however, know about the introduction of the quadrigatus and have what is considered reliable dating for the introduction of this type. There is no widely accepted theory that supports quadrigati being introduced during the First Punic War.

  • @alexeysaphonov232
    @alexeysaphonov232 ปีที่แล้ว +91

    Just to understand how deep it is:
    1. Italian word for money is Soldi (Plural from solidus).
    2. Russian word 'деньгі' (den'gi) from turik ten'ge, from Persian denge, from roman dinarius.
    3. English word money, french monnaie, russian манета, italian maneda, deutsche Münze - all from roman word for mint, one of which was organizer in the temple of Iuno Moneda.
    4. All forms of Grosch, Grosz, Грошы - middleage Grossus Dinarius.

    • @robertmazurowski5974
      @robertmazurowski5974 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Grosz is the name of the Polish version of "Pennys". But it used to be a big unit 300 -400 years ago.

    • @alexeysaphonov232
      @alexeysaphonov232 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@robertmazurowski5974 Grosch is 10 Pfennings (old measure which pesists even today when Germans call 10 Euro Cents - Grosch.), Groši is a word for money in Belarus. But it is a bit different middleage system based on weight. Paund/Libra/Pfund (pieniendze), and smaller penny, pfennig.

    • @alexeysaphonov232
      @alexeysaphonov232 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Also in spanish, money is 'el dinero'.

    • @robertmazurowski5974
      @robertmazurowski5974 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@alexeysaphonov232 Thanks, this is very cool stuff I didn't know.

    • @makky6239
      @makky6239 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Portuguese = dinheiro

  • @alexandrejuliaomachado9547
    @alexandrejuliaomachado9547 ปีที่แล้ว +73

    Excellent video! I'm Brazilian and between the late 80's and early 90's, my country went through a period of hyperinflation. Only those who have gone through it, know how destructive hyperinflation can be.

    • @el_chico1313
      @el_chico1313 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      venezuelan

    • @terakiei
      @terakiei 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So don't support money printing

    • @viniciusteixeiramelo8687
      @viniciusteixeiramelo8687 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Qual foi o nome do cara que emprestou o dinheiro para Roma? Eu não entendi

  • @xanderunderwoods3363
    @xanderunderwoods3363 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Rome 286, Germany in 1929, or Russia in 1993, and so many other examples... For real, debasing currency needs to be taken as seriously as war crimes due to its catastrophic outcome, especially on the most vulnerable, and because it usually leads to the rise of warlords.

    • @IsakSko
      @IsakSko ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not sure about punishing it. It's usually the last resort of a country

    • @perennialistperspective
      @perennialistperspective 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Just FYI: all of you people cause inflation by the way you vote. You blindly vote for the same incumbents who've been deficit spending, legislating stimulus packages, funding wars, creating laws for their cronies so they can evade taxes, etc. You can't be bothered to check up on the voting records of your two senators and one house rep that you get to vote for. Usually states and districts go for the same color, which means you had the chance to vote out these big spenders in the primaries and still get someone of your own party to replace the incumbent. But you can't be bothered. You blindly vote for your favorite color, even though both colors are causing inflation. Do you all think inflation is caused by magical powers or Putin's whims? By corporate greed perhaps? Learn about how the federal reserve and congress work together to inflate the currency, pleasing all their donors and special interests in exchange for votes. Learn about how you can vote out the incumbent in the primary so that you can still vote for your favorite color in the generals. Learn about why inflation is often so much more dramatic in some sectors, such as residential real estate, than others. Learn about what congress and the federal reserve could do, if they so chose, to bring prices down on everything, especially residential real estate.

    • @thesecondsilvereich7828
      @thesecondsilvereich7828 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The thrid reich had inflation by 1936. Thus the debt got so big that it would take all the gold in Europe to pay off

    • @thesecondsilvereich7828
      @thesecondsilvereich7828 15 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      The population is to big to use gold or silver

  • @turbonerd6552
    @turbonerd6552 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    I really enjoy these economic dives into Rome

  • @MattMajcan
    @MattMajcan ปีที่แล้ว +33

    its just crazy how many times rome kept doubling down without realizing that maybe a new strategy was needed. the crazy thing is that humans really havent learned anything since then, and many governments still use printing money aka debasing currency as a way of financing things. Maybe people do realize the damage that causes and just dont care, someone else can fix it later.

    • @Njordin2010
      @Njordin2010 ปีที่แล้ว

      What would you have done? Especially if you face immeadiate problems and your predecessors 'made it work' by debasing? You could get killed in an instant if you can't pay the legions, the senate or food imports. Its easy for us to claim that nowadays.

    • @BRTowe
      @BRTowe ปีที่แล้ว +6

      They didn't really have the concept of inflation as we do now. There had never been a truly large economy before them, so they really were learning as they went.

    • @luispocho2283
      @luispocho2283 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      if you think about it, a dozen of inflation crisis in all that time is not so much. You could say that their economy moved so slowly that it actually didnt look l ike a disaster most of the time. Also going back to coinless trade was a legitimate option for most people during those times, which now would be seen like a total disaster.
      Imo the economy wasnt the biggest of the emperor´s worries.

    • @gormenfreeman499
      @gormenfreeman499 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Creating more money doesn't make more resources. The market figures it out and reprices things higher. Think how much economic progress there has been in the last 100 years. Prices should be going down and savers rewarded highly. Deflation its called, but the amount of money is continuously being expanded for various reasons causing a steady inflation in very world market.

    • @b.j4348
      @b.j4348 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@gormenfreeman499 look at the Federal Reserves printing since the pandemic. Went from 2,000 billion a year to 20,000 billion and did it hard for the past 3 years...
      The hyperinflation we see now is a direct result and imo it almost seems intentional. Some greedy fucks realised in times of crisis the rich get richer.
      Oxfam published in 2012 how 51% of the worlds assetts were owned by a VERY small portion. That number has risen to an almost unreasonable level.
      The disparity of wealth hasn't been this bad since the Gilded Age which is a period I think not many people ever want to replicate again.

  • @Lisa-ol1ih
    @Lisa-ol1ih ปีที่แล้ว +23

    The guy flashing coins under his robe in the alley was by far the best animation in this entire video. Well done lols! I love these videos on different aspects of Rome like inflation and vacations.

  • @mg4361
    @mg4361 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    20:15 the Romans built such lovely mosques and minarets, amazing 😅

  • @alexyoung3126
    @alexyoung3126 ปีที่แล้ว +317

    Inflation hits people a lot harder than a crashing stock or housing market as it directly affects people's cost of living that people immediately feel the impact of. It's not surprising negative market sentiment is so high now. We really need help to survive in this Economy. The fin-Market;s have underperformed the U.S. economy as fear of inflation hammers the prices of stock;s and bonds. My portfoliio of $250k is down to $192k any recommendation;s to scale up my return;s during this crash will be highly appreciated.

    • @checkforme234
      @checkforme234 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You have to get a financial-advisor to aid you diversify your portfolios to include commodities, inflation-indexed bonds and stocks of companies with solid cash flows, as opposed to growth stocks where valuations were based on future potential earnings.

    • @erichkraetz2622
      @erichkraetz2622 ปีที่แล้ว

      I agree, my proffit have been quite consistent, regardless of market situation, I got in early 2019 and the constant downtrends and losses discouraged me so I sold off, got back in Dec 2020 this time with guidance from a brokerage-adviser. I found her on a CNBc interview where she was featured and reached out to her afterwards. long story short, its been two years now and I’ve gained over $850k following guidance from my inveestment adviser.

    • @joesphcu8975
      @joesphcu8975 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@erichkraetz2622 Please can you leave the info of your invstment adviser here? I overheard someone talking about how a couple made $200k during this red season. I need such luck lol

    • @erichkraetz2622
      @erichkraetz2622 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@joesphcu8975 INGRID CECILIA RAAD is the brokerage-adviser. She has been of great help and her tutelage has brought me to a higher understanding of proffit generation. You can look up her name on the net for her page and reach out. Understands the job perfectly.

    • @ThomasNoname
      @ThomasNoname ปีที่แล้ว +16

      I swear, these bots are everywhere, when will TH-cam do something about this. this is a video on a historical event, go away please!

  • @legateelizabeth
    @legateelizabeth ปีที่แล้ว +92

    “That miracle came in the form of … Emperor Aurelian.”
    I love that even actual history channels are now on board with ‘Aurelian was a walking deus ex machina and literal gift from the heavens’. All you need to do now is only ever show him with the mask on.

    • @jackalope07
      @jackalope07 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      the fact that his life was an ex machina and death was an athenian tragedy proves we live in a simulation

    • @Knoloaify
      @Knoloaify ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Tell me about Aurelian, why does he wear the mask?

    • @RexOedipus.
      @RexOedipus. ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@Knoloaify nobody cared who he was until he put on the mask

    • @MarktheRude
      @MarktheRude ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RexOedipus. Crashing the economy with no survivors.

    • @monetizedyay6827
      @monetizedyay6827 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm not, I feel like it leads to his predecessors being overshadowed too often

  • @randomlyentertaining8287
    @randomlyentertaining8287 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Nero - *Explains his plan for more money.*
    Everyone who knows how economics work - "That's not how this works, that's not how any of this works."

  • @truthinhistory6585
    @truthinhistory6585 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    this is exactly the kind of stuff I want to learn from history! Thank you for this awesome presentation.

  • @uncletiggermclaren7592
    @uncletiggermclaren7592 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    You are doing some really good work. I think you are a important historian, making a real contribution to the art.

  • @malleableconcrete
    @malleableconcrete ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Late Roman Emperors itching to debase the coinage just one more time man, this is the last one I swear I just need a little pick me up, I don't have a problem you have a problem.

  • @joeirungu5288
    @joeirungu5288 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Exceptionally well done video.Keep up.Very informative

  • @solaufein1374
    @solaufein1374 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Really good episode (as allways). Finally i learned Sestertius/Denarius ratio.

  • @Trashloot
    @Trashloot ปีที่แล้ว +9

    This video was amazing. I would totally watch a part 2 about the byzantine empire:D
    I found the insight in to the roman prices especially interesting.

  • @user-cd4bx6uq1y
    @user-cd4bx6uq1y ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is a very different but a great type of video

  • @johnbehneman1546
    @johnbehneman1546 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    THANK YOU SO MUCH. A GREAT HISTORY LESSON.

  • @mardasman428
    @mardasman428 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I really loved this episode. It looks like Rome didn't fail so much because of military failures, but because their economy was administered by incompetent emperors who didn't understand economics.
    After all, Rome was successful even in military defeat during their time of inflationary stability until the principate, but as soon as incompetent principates started to take the reign, Rome started to disintegrate and fail.

    • @Sforschondetta
      @Sforschondetta ปีที่แล้ว +11

      That's vastly overstating things. And there's no reason to conclude its one or the other. The "fall" of Rome is a multifaceted phenomenon and no one thing is a singular cause.

    • @williewonka6694
      @williewonka6694 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Incompetent emperors came up because the competent persons realized the juice was not worth the squeeze.

  • @jonkayl9416
    @jonkayl9416 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very good Video, well presented!!

  • @oleopathic
    @oleopathic ปีที่แล้ว

    Good video. Thank you so much!

  • @TheJam1192
    @TheJam1192 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Can’t wait for the video on the Eastern Roman Empire!

  • @Mister_Pigeon
    @Mister_Pigeon ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Do you think the Romans also had a Raid Shadow Legends sponsorship for their own raids that could have contributed to the Roman inflations

    • @sonofthebearking3335
      @sonofthebearking3335 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Almost can't believe he snuck that promo in there so well, 😂 until a while in I had to ask
      Wait a minute this isn't a Raid commercial is it?
      Well played. I normally hear 'Raid' and stop paying attention 😄

  • @robbabcock_
    @robbabcock_ ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video!

  • @brokenbridge6316
    @brokenbridge6316 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nicely informative video

  • @felipefspb
    @felipefspb ปีที่แล้ว

    This was a very interesting video!

  • @jtb6737
    @jtb6737 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I like how you made the comparison of how many days work is needed to buy something. It makes it more relatable across history.

  • @user-cd4bx6uq1y
    @user-cd4bx6uq1y ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This will be incredible

  • @mohammedsaysrashid3587
    @mohammedsaysrashid3587 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Most informative, important &interested Video ...allot Thanks (invicta) channel

  • @markvoelker6620
    @markvoelker6620 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    The original (pre-2013) definition of inflation, is “an excessive increase in the amount of circulating currency and credit”. The definition has been changed to obscure the cause and effect relationship between currency debasement (reducing silver or gold content, or, printing too much paper) which expands the supply of currency and credit, and the *resulting* devaluation of “money” (actually, currency) and consequent increases in the prices of everything.
    The central banks do not want you to know it is their fault, so they changed the definition of “inflation” to hide the cause and effect relationship between their currency printing and your increased cost of living.

    • @andrzejadamowicz3753
      @andrzejadamowicz3753 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Funny fact is that he keeps saying that throughout the video. Rome kept creating 'silver' coins which were not really silver thus increased currency supply (or amount of coins in their case).
      Don't you find it strange, Mark, that so few have guts to say it like it is in case of definition of inflation?

    • @markvoelker6620
      @markvoelker6620 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@andrzejadamowicz3753 I do find it strange, yes. For decades we have been lied to about the nature of money. We have been taught that pieces of paper, or electronic bookkeeping entries in bank ledgers, are money. These things are not money, they are merely currency.
      Money is gold and silver and even copper. Especially gold and silver.
      Currency is not money. The map is not the territory. A claim check for your shirt at the dry cleaner’s is not your shirt.
      A piece of paper is not gold.

  • @AnthroTsuneon
    @AnthroTsuneon ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I'm not sure if a video covered it already or no, but I'm curious about attrition in the legions-- Desertion is a given, but how did they prepare for climates unfamiliar to Rome? Did they try to send back the bodies if they can? And you got plenty of shows/games having some assassin going about ending some no name guard, but surely something like that would ring far more alarm, encampment or fort wide?

  • @miguelsuarez-solis5027
    @miguelsuarez-solis5027 ปีที่แล้ว +92

    I always find it interesting when people controlling the economy think that they could just lessen the thing that makes their coin valuable and it's still going to retain the same value. Anybody with the slightest bit of common sense knows that's not how that works

    • @px6883
      @px6883 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      They know that it doesn't work in the long-term, but they still do it if it's the only way of not going bankrupt at the moment. After all, it did give them a small boost in their budget the moment they did it, it just ruined the economy in the long term.

    • @VainerCactus0
      @VainerCactus0 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      Printer go brrrrrrrrrr.

    • @sicarii545
      @sicarii545 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      a lot of this seems like the leaders had no choice. as the empire expanded and there were fluctuations in supply of silver and plagues it was a choice between debasing the money or letting ppl starve and revolt.

    • @miguelsuarez-solis5027
      @miguelsuarez-solis5027 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@sicarii545 That's an interesting thought considering debasing the money tends to make people starve. I think it's more about making more money so that you can pay for more things in the short term before people realize the money has been debased, because they are over spending. It's a piss poor way to run an economy

    • @The-Plaguefellow
      @The-Plaguefellow ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@miguelsuarez-solis5027
      Seems like it's always been a trend where leaders throughout history have tried to use debasement for far longer extents of time than what is actually viable; a short-term solution made long-term.

  • @-RONNIE
    @-RONNIE ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the video it was interesting

  • @mrmeowmeow710
    @mrmeowmeow710 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    from a history nut damm good video 2 big thumbs up

  • @shorewall
    @shorewall ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wonderful video!

  • @sonofthebearking3335
    @sonofthebearking3335 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Dang I wasn't even tempted to be distracted/consider doing something else with my time until 9:15 minutes in; so well presented while conveying complicated subjects in a very simple and interesting way (about an economical thing I am not normally already interested in) that I was riveted and want to share this with friends who aren't even interested in just military history which normally is what catches my attention.
    Well done! Amazing work! 😂

  • @sebholding
    @sebholding ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent

  • @stackerusargentius9152
    @stackerusargentius9152 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    If you describe inflation as the increase in the price of goods and services over time, then you are putting the cart before the horse. So many people have this very common misconception. I personally believe that this alternate definition is a tool of misdirection in order to obscure causality. Inflation is the expansion of the money supply. Only a government has the so-called "legitimate" power to create currency, so inflation is directly caused by government, not by the increase of prices in the private sector. The most important part to understand is that the increase in the price of goods in an economy is a natural consequence of inflation and is not the inflation itself. This distinction is crucial to understand especially in today’s age.

  • @kevinelruler
    @kevinelruler ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You upload a video, I comment. Simple as. Now to sit back and enjoy.

  • @thereignofthezero225
    @thereignofthezero225 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Good content although it was funny how you opened up by saying inflation is an increase in prices, then proceeded to argue that it was the debasement of the currency, the increase in the money supply, which actually caused the price increases. The real definition of inflation is an increase of the money supply and the result is an increase in prices. Cause and effect. They changed the definition to "increase in prices" so that when the gov creates the inflation, they can more easily put the blame elsewhere for the price increases 😄

    • @sntslilhlpr6601
      @sntslilhlpr6601 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Words can have more than one meaning, you know. Price inflation is often caused by monetary inflation, but not always. Not everything is a conspiracy btw. Everyone knows that pandemic spending is what triggered what's happening right now, but that's definitely not the only factor.

    • @sadiejones7991
      @sadiejones7991 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Good to know that there are still some people that understand this.

    • @thereignofthezero225
      @thereignofthezero225 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sadiejones7991 I listen to Peter schiff 😄

    • @thereignofthezero225
      @thereignofthezero225 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Mike words can have endless meaning too, while simultaneously having no meaning haha. Just ask the post modernists. And most everything people endeavor to do is, by definition, a conspiracy.

    • @sadiejones7991
      @sadiejones7991 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thereignofthezero225 👍👍

  • @game_boyd1644
    @game_boyd1644 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good thing we've learnt our lesson now

  • @fetus2280
    @fetus2280 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video mate ...I would be interested to watch more about it :)

  • @guyfawkes8384
    @guyfawkes8384 ปีที่แล้ว

    Perfect timing seeing as we are following in the same footsteps as ancient Romans did!

  • @vilena5308
    @vilena5308 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Me: I don't remember these Diocletian's monetary reforms? Some of the largest in human history...???
    "It ultimately failed."
    That would explain it...

  • @alejandrosakai1744
    @alejandrosakai1744 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    The Greek Drachmas, the Roman Denarii, the Persian darics, and other ancient coinages were interesting, I want a video about money in the Ancient World!

    • @worndown8280
      @worndown8280 ปีที่แล้ว

      They call come from the proto indo european word for ten, déḱm̥. Thats because all three came from those people on the step.

    • @worndown8280
      @worndown8280 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Deepak_Dhakad No kidding the Yamnaya didnt use coins. The word Denarius comes from the Latin dēnī which means to contain ten.
      The Drachma comes from the Greek word to hold with tightly, which is sourced from to hold with ten, as in ten digits. Ten.
      That goes all the way back, as far as we can trace, to the word déḱm̥. Which means... ten.
      The word dime also comes to us via Latin but going back to that same word.

    • @worndown8280
      @worndown8280 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Deepak_Dhakad it's not the coin itself. It's the value of the coin i believe. Their measurements were probably based on ten. But we can't prove that due to lack of historical record.
      This differs from say the source of our measurements of time and circles which come from the sumerian system based on 12.

  • @blueguy5588
    @blueguy5588 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The XXI on nummi is sometimes said to represent a 20:1 ratio of base metal to silver (since they were 5% purity).

  • @Franchisetyg
    @Franchisetyg ปีที่แล้ว +6

    How were the Roman’s able to tell the purity levels of the coins ? Especially the plebeians

    • @kovona
      @kovona ปีที่แล้ว +11

      You'll notice that the debased coins have less shine or lustre, or starting changing colour/corroding in a way that a fine silver or gold coin shouldn't. In the case of late empire coins where a thin plating of precious metal is used to disguise the debased coin, the plating will literally start to rub off after extended handling. The coin can also be cut or dented to determine if it was plated.
      More expert money changers and merchants can weigh their coins on purpose-built scales or use a touchstone to assay the purity of coins. With the touchstone method, the precious metal object is rubbed across a flat piece of black basalt, creating streaks on it's surface. The streaks are then visually compare to streaks made by a control piece of gold and silver of known purity. Difference in colour, lustre, and other traits are used to determine the purity of the tested sample, and expert assayers can determine a fineness difference down to a few percents just by looking at these streaks.

    • @adamwarlock1
      @adamwarlock1 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@kovona Makes me think of old movies & cartoons where a merchant will bite down on a coin to test it, I assume to detect a difference in taste or hardness or both.

    • @wisemoldsthoughts2119
      @wisemoldsthoughts2119 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      it is a matter of habit and environment. Nowadays, it looks like a difficult question to destinguish even bronze from copper, but imagine that your whole life depends on a small piece of metal you get and you know that it might be fake. You will not know algebra, but you will know 100 ways to distinguish the quality of a coin you got. Of course, you can miss 2% reduction, but then environment comes. There are professional dillers, bankers and businessmen around you which have some greater means to check the quality of their property and then suddenly they, e.g. melted down a couple of killograms of new coins and found the trick, the rumors will spread faster than fire that the maim business man has increased the prices because he was not happy about the quality of new coins

  • @Jaunyus
    @Jaunyus ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video. Can you do one on Byzantine currency? Thank you

  • @SPQRxUSAxNUSA
    @SPQRxUSAxNUSA ปีที่แล้ว

    This is a wonderful video but could you add a timeline at the bottom with the date so we can follow it over time...?

  • @hankrearden20
    @hankrearden20 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    "Watch me collapse an empire by changing a 1 into a zero." Rick Sanchez.

  • @veramae4098
    @veramae4098 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wonderful fun book: "Lest darkness fall"
    Saving the Roman Empire.

  • @andreascovano7742
    @andreascovano7742 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    You should do a video on Diocletians edict of prices in detail. It's interesting to note what stuff was valued in an idealistic sense in the 4th century

    • @ComradeArthur
      @ComradeArthur ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Just read "Atlas Shrugged." - the parts covering directive 10-289. That seems to copy much of what Diocletian tried.

  • @sarysa
    @sarysa ปีที่แล้ว +3

    20:15 - A new animation hall of fame contender appears! [edit: and 25:06, I wonder if he'll come back flashing other seedy wares...]

  • @CactusJackIV
    @CactusJackIV ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love the channel, keep up the awesome work!!

  • @user-qy1kq5xl9p
    @user-qy1kq5xl9p ปีที่แล้ว

    Very good video now do one on perisa.

  • @skeletonkeysproductionskp
    @skeletonkeysproductionskp ปีที่แล้ว

    Brilliant video with great graphics...sadly reminiscent of our current era!

  • @BigMackWitSauce
    @BigMackWitSauce ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Anyone know if any modern economist have looked back and Roman system and discovered what the Romans actually should have done to save their currency?

    • @kakyoin9688
      @kakyoin9688 ปีที่แล้ว

      Eh it’s super hard to say, economy still could’ve been destroyed with stuff like the plague that hit the empire leading into the crisis of the third century.

    • @jeffhurtson5211
      @jeffhurtson5211 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There is alot the Romans could have done to save their currency, but could they survive as a nation without debasement? Debasement was used to finance its military, with out it, the nation could have collapsed much sooner or lasted a lot longer.

  • @NomeDeArte
    @NomeDeArte ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Lately? I live in Argentina, in here is strong that anything, like 100 points this year, 8 points every month, you don't even know how much cost things.

  • @igor_pavlovich
    @igor_pavlovich ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Great video!
    One thing i was always interested is how Caesar managed his debt before and after civil war. Could you mention it in any of future videos?

  • @billybob7653
    @billybob7653 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Once again I’m reminded why Aurelian was the best

  • @benoitlabrecque4513
    @benoitlabrecque4513 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The XXI mark is indicating the 5% purity. 1 part silver for 20 part bronze. (That is what most numismatic books say about it)

  • @michaelmoran3372
    @michaelmoran3372 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Actually, inflation is an increase in the supply of money whose effect is an increase in the bid costs of good and services. This is perfectly illustrated by the debasement of the silver quadriggatus, which is exactly the same as increasing the money supply.

    • @GeneralBlackNorway
      @GeneralBlackNorway ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Inflation of the money supply is called monetary inflation and inflation on the price of goods and services is called price inflation. Inflation itself means increase, while in economics the word inflation is generally used for price inflation, while in monetary circles they carefully avoid it's use for monetary inflation as they are dominated by Keynesian economic and modern monetary theory. Those who subscribe to the Austrian school of economics however love to use the term solely for monetary inflation. While the Austrian economists are right that monetary inflation is the biggest driver of price inflation long term, in the short term it is supply shortages of goods and services that have the biggest impact on prices.

    • @RCx44
      @RCx44 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@GeneralBlackNorway price inflation always is and always will be a symptom of monetary inflation in any long term scenario.

    • @RianMeier
      @RianMeier 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      ​@GeneralBlackNorway short term price changes are not inflation. Even if you differentiate between price and monetary inflation price inflation is still measured as a year on year moving average. In most countries it also only tracks a predetermined set of goods (which has also changed over the years). Price inflation merely tracks the effect of monetary inflation.

  • @user-hb7py7xy7b
    @user-hb7py7xy7b ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome video as always.
    It's sad to see that after every August always come some Nero.

  • @Constantine_Bush
    @Constantine_Bush ปีที่แล้ว +5

    How did Constantine manage to fix this problem with solidus?Granted,we are talking about a coin that did not lost it's value,until after 8 centuries,which is quite a lot.

    • @ideclaredwaronyourfrenchas4123
      @ideclaredwaronyourfrenchas4123 ปีที่แล้ว

      Probably consolidated all the gold coins that are in circulation then issued a new coin. Basically resetting everything

    • @pauls6425
      @pauls6425 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He didn't. Solidus is in used by the middle and upper class, but the silver and copper coins are still worthless. The Romans still use barter and the Legions are paid in kind, rather than in salary

  • @petersclafani4370
    @petersclafani4370 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Besides inflation, military problems on the frontiers major plagues cripple the army as well as civilian life.

  • @CssHDmonster
    @CssHDmonster ปีที่แล้ว +3

    18:55 typo alert, i think u meant to type there ''and an''

  • @calgacusofcaledonia
    @calgacusofcaledonia ปีที่แล้ว

    That’s good watchin…

  • @pyropulseIXXI
    @pyropulseIXXI ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Inflation is a symptom of a greater problem so 'battling inflation' is always a fool's errand. Instead of clamping off a cut artery, 'battling inflation' is putting a Band-Aid on that open wound rather than clamping off/cauterizing the cut artery

  • @maximfunfstuck5741
    @maximfunfstuck5741 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    you know the economy is in trouble when everybody starts to accept the raid shadow legends ads

  • @thesecondsilvereich7828
    @thesecondsilvereich7828 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Greeks: I hope to be remembered as a warrior culture and not a mismatch economy
    Rome: I hope to be remembered for spreading culture and not getting invaded by germanic tribes and inflation economy

  • @Secretsofsociety
    @Secretsofsociety ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One possible benefit of the Aes Rude is in the early time when Romes security was not so good it was hard to loot the cities wealth considering it was A. Heavy and B. Just chunks of bronze to everyone else.

  • @OhioDan
    @OhioDan ปีที่แล้ว +11

    How did they measure the weight of the total value of silver in the coins without melting the coins down or somehow knowing their exact level of purity?

    • @FerutElCampeador
      @FerutElCampeador ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Bronze, copper and silver have different densities, the coins would be more or less heavy and could be weighted, and I remember that the greeks also used the sound of the coin, so I guess using a varied array of methods could approximate the value of silver quite well.

    • @OhioDan
      @OhioDan ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@FerutElCampeador Thanks, using the differences in weight makes sense.

    • @Benjamin-zr4yw
      @Benjamin-zr4yw ปีที่แล้ว +3

      in another video a guy at a norse medieval festival showed off some kind of board.
      (their "money" were rings & other metal ornaments.) he would scratch a ring on the board and the color&shining of the marks on the board tells the contents of the metal

    • @Cyberspine
      @Cyberspine ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The color of the metal also changes based on purity. Small changes are hard to detect, though.

    • @Callmecel
      @Callmecel ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Holding them, you can actually tell the difference sometimes! Other times, moneychangers would happily swap things in their own favour ;)

  • @leemarty2765
    @leemarty2765 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    As we get deeper into this recession more people will lose their jobs which will expand the inventory along with homebuilders delivering their massive backlog .In my opinion Inventory could keep building for a few years .The more inventory that builds up , the more desperate sellers are going to feel and will be cutting prices . Fear drove it up and fear is going to drive it down.This is what the beginning of a crash feels like.I would rather buy at a cheaper price and a higher interest rate. I can always refi when rates come down but I don't want to buy a depreciating asset. Thanks again for a great show with facts backed by real data.

    • @donaldbrain5996
      @donaldbrain5996 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      May be an opportunity to purchase investment properties. I’m licensed. Considering purchasing a new primary if the prices drop low enough. Flip my current property to a rental. Also, creative financing and FHA Loan assumptions should be on the rise. I have a listing now with those options. Buyer can get 2.99% interest rate.

    • @stricklandpilman2123
      @stricklandpilman2123 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Why people talk like housing price goes down as a bad thing. Housing price goes down is a GOOD thing. Less money locked in housing, that frees up spending on other essential items.

    • @justingregory2965
      @justingregory2965 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stricklandpilman2123 You are right! I diversified my $550K portfolio across various market with the aid of an investment advisor, I have been able to generate a little bit above $870k in net profit across high dividend yield stocks, ETF and bonds during this red season.

    • @justingregory2965
      @justingregory2965 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Building wealth involves developing good habits like regularly putting money away in intervals for solid investments. The crpto market has plenty of opportunities to earn which I myself took advantage of.. I made my first million from going diverse, mainly stocks, ETFs and bonds. It’s a long term plan for me so I invest and re-invest credits to my Finacial Advis0r Karen Marie Emma.

    • @philipparker9893
      @philipparker9893 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@justingregory2965 Ive read different comment sections where this name was mentioned but was skeptical, would love to work with her.

  • @CrazedGamer117
    @CrazedGamer117 ปีที่แล้ว

    isn't there a silver mine in Sardinia, or was that later?

  • @josephlongbone4255
    @josephlongbone4255 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "Won't someone please think of the economy?"
    -Atila the Hun

  • @nathanialbrand4995
    @nathanialbrand4995 ปีที่แล้ว

    The guy at 25 mins: "Wanna buy a sundial??"

  • @Svartalf14
    @Svartalf14 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Beg pardon, but while copper may be abundant, where did Rome procure the tin necessary for all that bronze?

  • @kanyekubrick5391
    @kanyekubrick5391 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is so in depth damn

  • @trevord4944
    @trevord4944 ปีที่แล้ว

    Never been this early before😩😩

  • @pyropulseIXXI
    @pyropulseIXXI ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Aurelian is one of my *top faves* of _Roman Emperors,_ with my *first fave* being the _primary Augustus_ himself!

  • @Uzair_Of_Babylon465
    @Uzair_Of_Babylon465 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job.

  • @carlg7190
    @carlg7190 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Why didn’t they recall the old currency and exchange it with the new currency at the appropriate value?
    I know that would not be popular (exchanging 5 debased coins for 1 purer coin) but at least then you wouldn’t have people hoarding/melting down the newer coins while they tried to spend the worthless stuff.

  • @bustavonnutz
    @bustavonnutz ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Flooding of silver causing inflation would happen later in Spain too. The Federal Reserve is using interest on debt to prop up an entire industry that makes people destitute while causing consistent inflation of the USD for over a century. Inflation isn't "going away", & I don't think people realize that.

    • @reeyees50
      @reeyees50 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dont forget the USA goverment is in debt to many nations and vice versa, many nations hold debts to the USA. Capitalism doing what is supposed to, making everyone lose

  • @LakierosJordy
    @LakierosJordy ปีที่แล้ว

    An unironic RAID shadow legends ad. Nice.

  • @DrWavy-ee5xo
    @DrWavy-ee5xo ปีที่แล้ว

    7:40 Spanish silver, and inflation 🤔

  • @KarleenGleichner
    @KarleenGleichner ปีที่แล้ว

    The world is like a mirror: Frown at itand it frowns at you; smile, and it smiles too

  • @craigleewhite6317
    @craigleewhite6317 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just wanted to thank you for such easy to follow lesson that explains it all. From Craig. UK.
    PS How do I get I to the business:)

  • @Leonismychild
    @Leonismychild ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ooooooo. Ancient economics. Me likey.

  • @costasvrettakos
    @costasvrettakos ปีที่แล้ว

    What about this minaret at 20:18 😛

  • @jeromebarry1741
    @jeromebarry1741 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We're told that U.S. currency is fabric, not paper. Therefore, further debasement is possible.

  • @DingoAteMeBaby
    @DingoAteMeBaby ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow

  • @Makrangoncias
    @Makrangoncias ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Inflation isn't the rise in prices, it's the rise of available means of exchange. Thus the name, the inflation of the currency base. Rise of prices is the consequence of inflation.

    • @theprofessional1375
      @theprofessional1375 ปีที่แล้ว

      I tend to disagree. To quote „A Treatise on Political Economy“ (1821) by the economist Say: „The experience of English commerce has, however, proved, that a casual *inflation of the price* of domestic, and depression of that of external products, may be the basis of permanent commerce.”

    • @luciusirving5926
      @luciusirving5926 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Inflation is bad anyway.

  • @MrUlyseses
    @MrUlyseses ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm impressed with the animations. They don't look stock.