# History of Forex Trading Throughout human civilization, there has always been a system of exchanging value. From direct barter trade to salt as well as copper and gold coins, various items that possess currency characteristics have been used as mediums of exchange. However, forex trading, as we know it today, traces its roots to the gold standard that was very much in place during the 19th century. Under that system, different currencies could be exchanged because they could easily be converted back to gold. Countries could only mint currencies according to the amount of gold they had in their reserves. But following the two World Wars during the first half of the 20th century, countries were forced to abandon the gold standard in order to be able to print more funds to finance their operations and expenses. The post-war era saw world currencies become very volatile, and major global powers attempted some measures to help stabilise the forex market.