Participation in private banking was commonplace during the early modern age. It provided the debtor with long-term investment and the ability to bridge short-term bottlenecks while providing creditors with capital investments. Furthermore, credit purchases allowed for small everyday transactions without the exchange of coins. The legislature therefore deemed debt a necessity and supported it, particularly in times of crisis. Negotiating of contracts and acting in administrative and judicial conflicts was thus a cultural practice. This volume provides the first comprehensive analysis of ecomic, social, mental, cultural, and everyday historical aspects of early modern private banking. German text.