re: History question re: banks

Yeah, for most of their pre-Alexander history, I don't think the Egyptians even had regular currency or money. Their economy mostly just existed by people getting allocated certain favors and privileges based upon social rank. The worker gets X amount of daily grain rations and has to work Y number of days out the year, the foreman gets Z amount plus a special house, etc.

There was an extensive barter system, where people paid priests for special amulets or funeral services or scrolls and stuff, but I don't think there was any standard currency. It was all just 2 chickens or 5 bowls of grain or whatever.

The Babylonians and Hebrews at least had silver shekels and stuff. Egyptians just wore stuff with rings and bracelets and crap. Turrible.