A Brief History of Money and Monetary Policy takes us on a journey through human economic history, tracing the evolution of money from simple barter between goods, to precious metals such as gold and silver, and finally to the paper money that dominated the modern world. Author Zakaria Mahran explains how money was more than just a means of exchange; it was a tool for preserving value and a pillar of state sovereignty, with each ruler seeking to mint his own currency and inscribe his symbols on it. The book explores the pioneering role of the ancient Egyptians in using metals as currency, moving on to the Roman solidus, which long dominated international currency, and then the historic transformation at the hands of Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan when he established the first independent monetary system for the Umayyad dynasty. The author also traces the developments of the monetary system in the Middle Ages and the modern era, up to World War I, which marked a turning point with the world's transition to paper money. The book provides a concise summary of monetary history and the financial policies that shaped the global economy, presented in a simplified style that combines precision and ease.

زكريا مهران (1920–1980م) أديب وصحفي مصري. كتب في النقد الأدبي والمسرح. نشر مقالات في الصحف المصرية الكبرى. وأسهم في إثراء الحركة الأدبية المعاصرة.