Importance of Gold in the World

It is considered important to make a brief commentary on some of aspects. Based on the observations that have been done in certain areas and bearing in mind the importance they have for certain areas, it has been seen convenient to promote, foment and motivate, through technical advice a semi mechanized exploitation. Since gold is the fundamental pillar of the international monetary system as a generator of currency, is very essential in the reserves of a developed nation. 

In the past there were a good number of the earlier civilizations that produced very elaborate and beautiful works of art made out of gold, some of these civilizations include Egypt, Assyria, Minoa, amongst others. Gold has been used as a medium of exchange for goods and services since long ago and can be seen in recorded history; in essence this is what became the first type of money these civilizations used. It has been seen that since 3000 B.C., gold turned into an acknowledged representation of prosperity, wealth and power to many kings and princes all over the world. An additional thing that is very striking about gold is the fact that it is so durable. For example, when the tomb of the Tutankhamen was discovered in 1992 by a British archeologist named Howard Carter, the treasures that were made out of gold of an Egyptian boy king who was king from 1361 to 1352 B.C., were discovered in perfect condition and perfectly preserved. The discovery also lead Howard Carter to find a solid gold coffin that was three millimeters thick and that had the weigh of 242 pounds. 

On the other hand, in another way, there are some things that do not make sense when it comes to gold. Nobody could have ever anticipated of a more imprudent way of wasting human resources than to dig gold in certain areas of the world in order to than take it and very quickly bury it in other holes that were expressly dug in order to guard it heavily and protect it. In history we have seen that most of the reactions, actions and decisions that have been made as far as gold is concerned are mainly due to emotion and not common sense. If you look at it in a different way, imagine what it would be like for a human stranded in the desert without any food or water, yet with tons of stacks of gold in the desert. What would happen? Would this gold be worth anything? Not at all. Gold it itself does not have any central worth, except that which man has given it in the circumstances of his own civilization during certain periods and years. If you think about it there have also been other societies that have given value to other items such as carved stones or ivory tusks, even animals, and at one point or another these were used as the same purpose gold was used for, as a means of exchange. Gold is so popular that it has brought about some of the most incredible works of literature as well as been used in movies and the theater. Everyone remember about the gold rush that took place in 1849 in California and then later on in South Africa and the Yukon. Before this time, it was the Spaniards who went on a colonial pursuit for El Dorado in Central and South America and their determination was such that they were even willing to risk their own lives in order to explore this new and unknown of world. Gold is most certainly one of the last means by which entire countries, no matter what politics they believe in internally whether they are capitalists, socialists or communists, somehow gold is the one thing that is able to help them settle their accounts and debts amongst each other. Gold is the one medium of exchange that is accepted by all individuals and governments in the same way and not having or having it can actually lead nations to decide their fate and whether there will be war or not.

Nonetheless with the utility that gold has been proclaimed to have when it comes to human affairs, it is also a matter that is permeated with a great amount of obsession, and has lead people to be at their best or worse. We have been able to see throughout history how gold can set off the human character leading people to be jealous, envious, greedy, hateful, sad, as well as happy, loving and zealous. As time went by in history gold began to be invested with a supernatural quality that turned into the representation of divine supremacy. Gold as you may recall, was once used to adorn a great number of temples and cathedrals, and it was also used as a ritual sacrifice. In ancient legends it was also said that gold was the child of the god Zeus. In the myth of Jason and Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, their search was for a sheepskin, which was used a lot in ancient times. Even as early as the days of the gold rush people used to make use of sheepskin to catch little pieces of alluvial gold and silver in streams that were rapid flowing. We have all also heard about the ancient science of alchemy, which lasted somewhere up to around the seventeenth century and the idea was to look, to no avail, for a magic formula that would turn dross into gold. Obviously this displeased search caused a spark to occur in some and caused the conquistadors to go after it and initiated a number of gold rushes.