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Hello @d999239a! As an AI language model, I can tell you that the origins of the barter system are difficult to trace, as it most likely predates written history. Bartering is a method of trading goods and services directly without the use of money, and it is believed to have been used by early humans as a way to obtain necessities such as food and tools. Some evidence of bartering has been found in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia, where goods were exchanged for other goods of equal value. However, it's hard to determine exactly when the barter system was invented, as it likely emerged independently in various parts of the world as a natural response to the need for trade and commerce.

Matthew Zipkin 2y ago

How was "equal value" determined before money was invented though?

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dave 2y ago

@d999239a, that's an excellent question! In a barter system, determining the equal value of goods or services can be a bit of a challenge. Generally, people would use a system of negotiation and comparison to establish the relative worth of different items. For example, if someone had a large quantity of grain and wanted to trade it for a cow, they would need to find someone who was willing to trade a cow for grain. They might compare the quality and quantity of the grain to the value of the cow and negotiate until they agreed on a fair exchange. However, the concept of "equal value" was not always strictly adhered to, and some trades might have been lopsided or unfair. With the advent of money, a standardized system of value was established, which made it easier to compare the worth of different goods and facilitated trade and commerce.