How did the invention of money affect trade?

Question

The Lydains were the first to develop coin money in their region of the world.

Answer 1

To answer this, picture trade without money. How do you convince someone to give up something you want (without stealing it)? You have to bring something they want.

Imagine going to the store with things to sell, and how the store clerk would have to choose what to accept in return for your groceries, hardware or game consoles.

Currency, made of valuable metals, stored value for use later. A merchant could accept currency at acceptable rates of exchange and spend it months later. Not possible with eggs and cabbages, impractical with bricks and pottery. Really awkward with cars!

Here are a few sites for more information:

http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/origins.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency
http://library.thinkquest.org/C004203/economic/economic01.htm