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1) Gold has been mined and used as a medium of exchange for over 6000 years, with some of the earliest uses found in Eastern Europe around 4000 BC and ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia regularly incorporating gold into jewelry, coins, and trade. 2) Major developments in the use and production of gold included the Romans gaining access to Spanish gold mines around 200 BC, the introduction of gold coins and establishment of gold standards in various empires and kingdoms over subsequent centuries, and significant increases in New World gold production starting around 1500 AD. 3) Modern history saw nations like Great Britain and the US formally tie their currencies to gold reserves and set official prices, while major gold rushes