Читать книгу Bitcoin, Blockchain & Co. - Joe Martin - Страница 13

A solution to the problems existing in the international finance markets appeared in the Middle Ages, with the emergence of the banking system. During these early days, the banker was viewed as the harbinger of truth, and it was the Knights Templar who organized the transfer of money via a large network. Before this, an asset owner would have to carry his physical valuables on his person. As you can imagine, this was a very dangerous undertaking. It was not just Robin Hood waiting to pounce, there also were some really bad guys, too. Regardless of the malevolence of the highwaymen—or even the authorities themselves who imposed many forms of taxation—the valuables were generally lost. The Knights Templar revolutionized that with their network of branches, making it safer and more efficient than ever before to make transactions.

A nobleman who invested a pound of gold could pick up the equivalent somewhere else with an appropriate paper. The Templars also maintained a network of messengers who would report on the transfers. This was not a really trustworthy system because a seal could be forged here and there, messengers could give the wrong news, and all sorts of tricks and manipulations could lead to false information. The system relied on trust and worked because there was no better alternative, and because people had faith in the Templars as trustworthy third parties. They were usually heavily armed and did “God’s work”—a factor that, for those times, held incredible weight and should not be underestimated.