Money in the German-speaking Lands (Spektrum: Publications of the German Studies Association, 17)

Money is more than just a medium of financial exchange: across time and place, it has performed all sorts of cultural, political, and social functions. This volume traces money in German-speaking Europe from the late Renaissance until the close of the twentieth century, exploring how people have used it and endowed it with multiple meanings. The fascinating studies gathered here collectively demonstrate money’s vast symbolic and practical significance, from its place in debates about religion and the natural world to its central role in statecraft and the formation of national identity. As The Years Following The 2008 Financial Crisis Have Made Clear, Europeanization, In Its Current Form, Is Largely Organized And Enacted With German Money. But This Is Not As Recent A Phenomenon As It Might Seem: Germany's Leading Role In Eu Financial Policy Is In A Sense Only The Latest Step In A Long Historical Trajectory Of Attempts To Forge Political Unification With The Tools Of Economic Integration. This Volume Follows This Trajectory From The Late Renaissance Until The Close Of The Twentieth Century, Exploring The Connections Between Economics And Politics Throughout German History, As Well As Money's Cultural And Symbolic Dimensions. Edited By Mary Lindemann And Jared Poley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Germany's leading role in EU economic policy following the 2008 financial crisis is in a sense only the latest step in a long history of attempts at political unification through economic integration. This volume follows this trajectory in German-speaking lands from the late Renaissance until the close of the 20th century.