An essential aspect in the life and evolution of man, since ancient times has been the care for the future, the fear combined with caution and the wisdom of a fulfilled thing. People have come together to deal with the consequences of accidents.
Thus, the merchants of Antiquity practiced forms of protection in order to cover the damages produced during the transport of the goods.
For example: the maritime legislation of Rodhos provided that the losses produced by throwing overboard a part of the goods in order to save the rest of the cargo, to be borne by all owners of goods loaded on board. And in Ancient Rome there were associations based on solidarity that intervened after the damage.
Then, the elements of an incipient insurance contract appear, in the form of a loan contract in which the amount guarantees a long-distance transport of goods; if they did not reach their destination, the creditor lost the amount borrowed. This contract gradually expands, being valid and existing even in the early Middle Ages.
We can say, in a way, that insurance appeared with the advent of human society. We are aware of two types of savings that have characterized society over time: foreign exchange savings (made with appropriate elements: foreign exchange markets, money, various financial instruments) and natural savings, in the absence of these elements, they date back a long time. older than the first.
In such a natural economy, we can look at the concept of insurance as a form of help between individuals in society. For example, if a house suffers a devastating fire, members of that community will help together rebuild the house; otherwise, they will not receive help in the future either. This type of insurance has survived to this day in regions where modern foreign exchange economies have penetrated only superficially (for example in some countries of the former Soviet Union). The insurance mainly expresses a financial protection for the losses suffered by people or companies due to various risks.
Insurance methods have developed along with the protection needs that exist at one time for people and their businesses. Thus, business people have understood to use insurance to reduce the risks that may occur in commercial transactions and those related to heritage protection.
The paper is addressed, first of all, to students in state and private economic higher education, high school students with economic profile, teachers in university and high school education, economic agents and state institutions and any other natural or legal persons who wish to acquire knowledge. in the field of insurance.
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