Artigo Revisado por pares

Bankers Accounts From the Eleventh Century a.D

1966; Brill; Volume: 9; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/156852066x00029

ISSN

1568-5209

Autores

S.D. Goitein,

Tópico(s)

Historical and Linguistic Studies

Resumo

ings, a few general remarks on the subject are appropriate. It is treated in full in chapter III F (Money, Banking and Finance) of volume I of my book A Mediterranean Society, which is now in print. The society of the Fatimid period to a certain extent was based on a paper economy. Even the grocer was not paid by more well-to-do people in cash, but through an arrangement similar to the modern chargeaccount. One sent one's servant with a ruq'a, or note, properly dated and signed, indicating quantity and price of the commodity required. After 5, 10, or zo such ruq'as had assembled with the grocer, he returned them in one bunch (which finally would find their way into the Geniza). Payment by promissory notes, also called ruq'a, was widespread. The Geniza has preserved also a bunch of zo20 ruq'as containing solely orders of payment. From letters we learn that not only private persons, but even government offices, such as toll stations, accepted promissory notes instead of cash.

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