Page 123 - Key to Social Studies 4

Let’s Connect

Trade in the Past

In ancient times, trade was done through the barter

system, where people would trade goods in exchange

for other goods. It is known that during the Stone Age

people also traded forms of rock or certain materials

like obsidian to make utensils and tools they needed.

Later, trade was known for people in di erent areas

around the world because of the development of ships

and the other di erent ways of transportation. So,

people started to trade to get what they did not have

in their area from people coming from other far areas.

Trade Today

As money has become available to everyone and

currencies evolved, trade today has a completely

di erent function compared to the past. Trade now is

practiced for increasing wealth and gaining money.

Today, huge corporations control the international

markets, where they mass-produce products that can

be available worldwide. The old term of trade has

changed toward investing, reselling, and providing

services around the world without the geographical

limitations that people had in the past.

121