others was considered theft, it was made an act of religious merit for people to subsidize "caravanserais" where camel drivers could tarry up to three days and get free shelter, food, and fodder. Asia Minor alone had 1,100 such "truck stops." One merchant's notes for a 79-day trip in 1581-82 showed his transport costs to be no more than three percent of the sale price of his goods; his ex- penses for customs and "protection" were higher.
Still vital even after 1300,...