Currency in Game of Thrones

Objectives:

1. Define the concept of currency and its functions in an economy.
2. Analyze the historical use of precious metals as currency.
3. Evaluate the decision-making process behind using specific items as currency in Game of Thrones.
4. Apply the concept of currency to real-world economic systems.

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Materials:

• Video clip: “What Can Daenerys and Jorah Use as Currency?”
• Worksheet with discussion prompts.
• Visual aids (e.g., images of historical currency, a chart showing the functions of money).

Procedures:

Introduction (5 minutes):

1. Begin with a discussion question: “What makes something valuable enough to be used as money?”
2. Introduce the functions of money:
   • Medium of exchange
   • Store of value
   • Unit of account

Instruction (30 minutes):

1. Define Currency and Its Functions:
   • Discuss the role of currency in facilitating trade and its evolution over time.
   • Explain why precious metals like gold were historically favored as currency (durability, divisibility, scarcity).
2. Video Analysis:
   • Show the video: “What Can Daenerys and Jorah Use as Currency?”
   • Briefly summarize the scenario:
     • Daenerys and Jorah plan to use a gold chalice to purchase a ship for their journey to Westeros.
     • Gold is being used as a medium of exchange in Game of Thrones.
3. Group Discussion:
   • Divide students into small groups to discuss:
     • What characteristics make the gold chalice a suitable currency?
     • How does the scarcity of resources in the Game of Thrones world affect the value of items used as currency?
     • What would happen if Daenerys and Jorah attempted to trade an item without intrinsic value?
   • Ask each group to present their findings.
4. Historical Context:
   • Provide examples of societies where gold and other items served as currency (e.g., Roman Empire, Aztec civilization).
   • Discuss the limitations of barter systems and how currency resolves these issues.

Discussion Questions for Worksheet:

1. List the three primary functions of money and explain how the gold chalice fulfills these roles.
2. What factors contribute to the value of the gold chalice as currency in the Game of Thrones context?
3. How might the availability of alternative forms of currency (e.g., livestock, labor) impact the value of the chalice?
4. Provide a real-world example of an item used as currency and analyze its effectiveness.
5. Optional: “Is Bitcoin an effective currency”?

Conclusion (10 minutes):

1. Recap the key points:
   • The functions and characteristics of currency.
   • The historical significance of precious metals as currency.
   • The practical application of these concepts in the Game of Thrones scenario.
2. Emphasize the importance of understanding what gives currency its value in both fictional and real-world economies.

Follow-Up Activity:

Assign students to research a historical or modern-day alternative to traditional currency (e.g., cryptocurrency, shells, tobacco) and prepare a brief presentation on how it functions as money. Encourage them to compare its effectiveness to that of gold in the Game of Thrones world.