Money didn’t just pop up out of nowhere thanks to one person or civilization; it’s something that developed over time. In the early days, people relied on barter, swapping goods and services directly. But as you can imagine, barter had its drawbacks, so communities began to use items that everyone agreed had value—things like shells, salt, beads, and metals. Eventually, precious metals like gold and silver took center stage. The Lydians, who lived in what we now call Turkey, were the first to mint coins around 600 BCE, and not long after, China rolled out the first paper money.So, when you think about it, money isn’t just one invention; it’s a gradual evolution from barter to coins and paper, shaped by various cultures to make trading a whole lot easier.