The late Sidney Homer published the First Edition of A History of Interest Rates in 1963 because he believed that a comprehensive history of this universal and basic economic and commercial price was necessary. Now in its Fourth Edition, A History of Interest Rates has become a classic in the fields of economics and finance.

This one-of-a-kind guide presents a readable account of interest rate trends and lending practices spanning over four millennia of economic history. Filled with in-depth insights and illustrative charts and tables, this updated Fourth Edition provides a historical perspective of interest rate movements as well as a new chapter of contemporary material and added discussions of interest rate developments over the past ten years.

A sampling of eras and areas covered include:

• Ancient Times: Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome


• Medieval Times and Renaissance Europe: Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and more


• Modern Europe and North America to 1900: England, France, and other European countries, as well as the United States


• Europe and North America since 1900: England, France, Germany, and Italy, as well as Canada and the United States


• Other countries and regions in the 1900s: Japan, Russia, China, and Latin America