The term "trade beads" refers to beads made predominately in Venice and Bohemia from the late 1400s through to the early 1900s and traded in Africa and the Americas. During this time, millions of beads were produced in a variety of styles, beautiful colors, and patterns. Travelers to Africa used beads as a form of currency in exchange for African goods as African people placed a high intrinsic value upon decorative items as social status could be easily determined by the quality, quantity, and style of jewellery worn. In some parts of Africa, this still holds true today.