Social History

Explore Florence's innovative public finance system where households and wealthy individuals contributed to financing the public debt in 14th-century Italy.

Explore the history of bankruptcy laws in the United States from colonial America to present day, highlighting key milestones and shifts in societal values.

The rise of credit-driven consumerism in post-war America led to increased consumption patterns, rising debt levels, and widening income inequality.

Explore the history of high-interest lending in Britain from ancient times to modern-day issues.

Explore the history of loan sharking in Glasgow's Hillington district through the life of Gerard Law, a notorious loan shark who preyed on vulnerable individuals with high-interest loans.

Explore the world of 16th century Venetian lending practices, where complex relationships between lenders, debtors, and law courts shaped credit markets and influenced social dynamics.

Explore the history of the Jewish presence in Renaissance Venice, from expulsion to segregation and economic significance.