The origins of how we moved from barter economies to using money are difficult to pinpoint and argued by many historians. 

For example:

In ancient Mesopotamia, the transition from barter economies to the use of money unfolded gradually. Initially relying on a system of direct exchange, societies encountered challenges such as the double coincidence of wants. To overcome these hurdles, commodities like barley and precious metals, notably silver, began to serve as mediums of exchange due to their intrinsic value. Over time, these commodities evolved into standardized units, providing a widely accepted measure of value. The innovation continued with the introduction of coinage in regions like Lydia, where electrum coins facilitated more efficient trade around 600 BCE. As societies became more complex, governments and authorities played a role in regulating and issuing money, marking a transition from commodity money to fiat money. This historical progression laid the foundation for modern monetary systems.

There are many more examples and I encourage you to look into it, as many fascinating stories exist.  

Money emerged to facilitate trade and commerce over great distances between societies or internationally. 

A barter economy is excellent if you're dealing with a few incumbents, but once society reaches a certain threshold, it needs a store of value to exchange products or services. 

Initially, that store of value was more universally desired commodities such as salt, spices, and precious metals.

These things could be easily stored, transported, and divided into smaller units, which made them ideal for use as a medium of exchange. 

However, as time went on, societies began to create standardised units of measurement for these commodities, which ultimately became coins and paper money.

The adoption of money was sped up by the growth of international trade and commerce as people began to specialise in specific trades or professions. 

This specialisation of trades and professions led to marketplaces where goods and services could be bought and sold. 

Over time, this resulted in more sophisticated trade and a greater need for a standardised medium of exchange. 

As a result, money became increasingly popular as a worldwide solution.

Today, money is essential to our global economy, facilitating the exchange of goods and services worldwide.

We’ve even shifted to exchanging value with digital currencies, but just like their physical counterparts, they only have value because we give them value. 

Digital currencies or otherwise, all forms of exchange we have are still useless on a desert island when you want to trade some clothes for pineapples.

But what does money mean for us today, and how does money work?