Dreams of avarice
Subtitle: credit and interest through the ages
By: written and presented by Niall Ferguson ; producer Joanna Potts ; Chimerica Media in association with Educational Broadcasting Corporation for Channel 4.
Contributors: Danon, Orly; Aukema, Dewald; Severin, Steven; Chimerica Media; Educational Broadcasting Corporation; Channel Four (Great Britain); Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Firm)
Series: Ascent of money: a financial history of the world; ECO 204 (NU course); ECO 447 (NU course); FIN 450 (NU course); FIN 501 (NU course); FIN 600 (NU course); FIN 630 (NU course); FIN 651 (NU course); FIN 671 (NU course); FIN 674 (NU course); HIS 431  (NU course); MKT 201  (NU course)
Publisher: Films for the Humanities & Sciences
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Hamilton, NJ
Language: eng
Format: [videorecording] :
Number of pages: 48
Subjects: Money; History; Credit; Interest; Debt; Usury; Banks and banking
Other titles: Credit and interest through the ages
Description: "From "promises to pay" on ancient Babylonian tablets to the insolvency of present-day consumerist America, this program explains the origins of credit and debt and why credit networks are central to civilization. Historian Niall Ferguson examines financial transactions recorded in cuneiform; the transition from Roman numerals to Arabic symbols for greater speed and efficiency among medieval Italian bankers; notions surrounding the practice of usury during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; and the rise of the Medici, who built their family's fortune as foreign exchange dealers. The program ties into contemporary issues by visiting Memphis, Tennessee-an epicenter of barbecue and bankruptcies. Distributed under license from BBC Worldwide."--Container.
Notes: Disc is a recorded DVD and may not play on all DVD players or drives.

Also available as streaming video.

Editor, Orly Danon ; director of photography, Dewald Aukema ; composer, Steven Severin.

Presenter: Niall Ferguson.

DVD-R.

Closed-captioned.