Category 1. The Fall of Rome & the Survival of Gold (476–700 CE)

1. The Fall of Rome & the Survival of Gold (476–700 CE), 1000 Years of Gold: The Medieval Origins of the Gold Standard, Gold, Part 1: The Early Foundations of Gold Money (500–1100 CE)

The Byzantine Solidus: The Gold Standard of Europe and the Mediterranean

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, much of Europe descended into economic fragmentation, with gold coinage disappearing from circulation. However, in the East, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire remained strong, preserving its centralized economy and…

Ming-Chih
February 17, 2025

1. The Fall of Rome & the Survival of Gold (476–700 CE), 1000 Years of Gold: The Medieval Origins of the Gold Standard, Gold, Part 1: The Early Foundations of Gold Money (500–1100 CE)

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE) and its impact on gold circulation

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE marked a turning point in European history, leading to the fragmentation of political power, economic instability, and significant shifts in monetary systems. For centuries, Rome’s vast economy had been supported…

Ming-Chih
February 17, 2025