The Rothschilds: From Frankfurt’s Judengasse to Bankers to the World

They spent centuries confined to the Judengasse ghetto in Frankfurt, earning a living peddling goods. But the Rothschild family moved past the antisemitism, emerging as one of the world's wealthiest and most influential banking dynasties. Join historian Ralph Nurnberger as he shares this rags-to-riches story.

The family’s banking business was founded in the 18th century by Mayer Amschel Rothschild who believed that the best path to success was to keep control of the family’s business in Rothschild hands. His strategy, which shielded information about their wealth and discouraged takeovers, proved to be brilliant.  

By the 1820s, Mayer and his five sons had established branches in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, and Naples. The decision to finance expansion in industries such as railway systems was instrumental in their growth. Successive generations of Rothschilds were able to further expand the banking and financial enterprises, as well as influence European and Middle Eastern foreign policies.

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