What Happened to the Good Ol' Days of Bartering?

Flashback into the past, envisioning people exchanging their livelihood goods and services to receive their neighbor's goods and services; this is what is called 'bartering'. What happened to these days?

Before the world monetary system took control with dollar bills and coins, people practiced and lived simple methods of goods and services exchange with other people. They understood the needs of livelihood and fair exchanges were welcomed. Socializing became a necessity; and diplomacy, politeness and manners became assets in developing skills for business social interaction. So what happened to all of this?

History of Bartering

It's hard to pinpoint when bartering began in human development. Some say about the same time early man came into view, while others maintain that it began before recorded time. The simple trading of clothing for food or livestock in exchange for another type of livestock was not uncommon. Bartering was based on personal exchanges from one person to the next. Whatever the need, bartering was an acceptable means in maintaining survival, especially for families; in this way, friendly social "business transactions" became quite beneficial.

Why the Monetary System Superseded

Unfortunately, the constant struggle between vice and virtue often led to greed. People wanted to give little to receive more and quality was not always there. This began distancing people from the ethical socializing that would have brought greater results if kept balanced, as such was not always the case. Another factor, people became disinterested as bartering not always provided what people needed. To quell the arguments and disappointments, people began seeking a more formal and independent method of supplying their needs; enter the monetary system. It became much easier to designate laws over coins and paper materialism than people. Banks eventually emerged and worked as intermediaries in the holding of assets on the condition that they could receive a minute credit for the transactions; and such is still the case to this day.

With the bartering system beginning to socially collapse, people began to turn towards metal as a durable standard of value that could live on forever. From jewelry, to Egyptian copper rings, to coins, the days of simple bartering began to slowly fall to the wayside.

According to James Harvey Stout, subsection 7: "In a huge leap toward the further abstraction of money, paper money was introduced in China around 600 AD. Marco Polo, who visited China in the 1200s, explained, apparently with a feeling of awe, 'All [the Chinese emperor's] subjects receive [paper money] without hesitation because, wherever their business may call them, they can dispose of it again in the purchase of merchandise they may require.' "

Has Bartering Become Totally Extinct?

No, it hasn't. Trading in the form of bartering still exists worldwide. Though the origins of bartering have been trampled upon throughout time, today's companies have redefined this simple means of goods and services exchange by resurrecting its value to meet the criteria of modern day realities.

U-exchange for example, is just one of many companies that acts as a provider in services for bartering; from personal goods to business services, they set a prime example that bartering is still pushing through the tarred crevices.

Bartering will never be fully extinct. It's inherent within the social aspects of humanity to create interchanges of goods, whether from a personal level or business.