Every time you tap your phone to pay for a coffee, take a loan to buy a house, or transfer funds across borders, you are engaging with a financial system shaped by centuries of evolution, conquest, crisis, and innovation. Yet most of us never see its inner workings.Banks are more than money warehouses-they are the beating heart of modern civilization. From the ancient grain banks of Babylon to high-speed algorithmic trading in New York and Shanghai, banking has not just adapted to the times-it has shaped them.In an era where AI predicts our spending habits, central banks issue digital currencies, and fintech startups challenge age-old institutions, understanding how global banking systems function is no longer optional. It's essential.This book aims to take you on a comprehensive yet accessible journey through the world's banking ecosystems. You'll discover how different countries structure their banks, why crises erupt with little warning, and how money quietly wields power behind political decisions and public policy.We will explore banking models from America's Wall Street to Kenya's mobile money revolution. We'll dive into digital transformation, ethical banking, and the threats that loom over global finance-cyberattacks, pandemics, and artificial intelligence.