What Unique Food Item Was Once Used as Currency in Ancient Civilizations?

In ancient Mesopotamia, around 3000 BCE, barley was not only a staple food but also a form of currency. This remarkable grain was so valuable that it was used to pay workers and settle debts, highlighting the integral role of food in the economy and daily life. The Sumerians even developed a complex system of weights and measures specifically for barley, demonstrating its importance. Barley was often processed into beer, which was consumed by various social classes, and was so central to their culture that it was sometimes referred to as "the staff of life." This historical use of a food item as currency illustrates how deeply intertwined food, trade, and societal structures were in ancient civilizations, reflecting a unique perspective on the value of sustenance in human history.