Economic Activity of the Order of Temple

The article examines the economic activities of one of the religious knightly orders of the early Middle Ages - the Order of the Temple, or the Templars. A brief history of the Order is presented, the methods of initial accumulation of capital are analyzed - donations, economic activity in the form of transportation and security services for pilgrims and temporary trust management of their property, tax benefits. It is concluded that the organizational structure of the Order was equally oriented towards ensuring the effectiveness of management of both the military component and economic activity, as evidenced by the equal title of the European leaders of the preceptories and the Palestinian leader of the Order - Grand Master. An attempt has been made to classify the types of economic activity that allowed the Order to achieve unprecedented wealth. Along with the standard organization of agricultural and commercial activity in rural and urban commanderies, the Order benefited most from financial operations, some of which were pioneering. The honesty and impeccable reputation of faithful have earned the Order the reputation of a reliable partner. Innovative instruments in the form of current accounts, bill and check circulation and money transfers contributed to the development of individual businesses and international trade in general. The Order made a significant contribution to the formation of a single Euro-Mediterranean economic area.