The Ascent of Money (US) — Season 1, Episode 1: From Bullion to Bubbles
Documentary • 50 min • 1 season, 4 episodes
Episode synopsis
In the first episode of the four-hour series THE ASCENT OF MONEY, economist and historian Niall Ferguson documents the roots of money in the conquest of the Americas, from the Incan empire to the Louisiana territory.
About The Ascent of Money (US)
As the world continues to struggle to find its footing amid rising unemployment, constricted credit and crumbling banks and industries — raising questions about how the economic system collapsed — PBS presents Niall Ferguson’s ASCENT OF MONEY. This groundbreaking four-part series examines the creation of the economic system by taking viewers on a global trek through the history of money. This documentary delves deeper into how our complex system of global finance evolved over the centuries, how money has shaped the course of human affairs and how the mechanics of this economic system work to create seemingly unlimited wealth — or catastrophic loss.