THE HISTORY OF THE CREDIT CARD

The Credit Card has been around a lot longer than we tend to think. Most people, if you asked them, would say that credit cards were first established in the latter half of the 20th century. In fact, the first credit cards, as we know them, were set up in the early part of the 13th century. The early credit cards came from a Catholic order known as the Knights Templar. They were a group of Knights who were dedicated to the concept of poverty and were committed to fight in the Crusades. They were recognised by the Pope in 1129. The Knights wore a white mantle with a red cross and their symbol was two Knights on the one horse – demonstrating the poverty of the members of the order. They could only afford to share a horse rather than have one each. The order grew quickly in popularity and attracted many non- combatant members as well as Knights. Each member, because of his vow of poverty, signed over his wealth to the order and the order quickly grew in wealth and power. The Knights, at its height had 2000 fighting Knights, fought in seven battles in the Crusades. The 18,000 non-combatant members were much more powerful. After the first Crusade had captured Jerusalem, Christian Pilgrims travelled to visit the Holy places. Bandits abounded and pilgrims were routinely slaughtered, sometimes by the hundreds. The Knights Templar were given the responsibility of protecting the pilgrims. A banking system was set up. They managed a huge economic structure and introduced the first credit and debit cards.