Final answer:
Merchants in the Middle East and Asia commonly formed caravans, using caravansaries for protection and rest, and relied on letters of credit for financial transactions during their journeys across the Silk Roads.
Step-by-step explanation:
It was not uncommon in the Middle East and Asia to find caravans of merchants traveling together across the desert to trade their goods in far-away markets.
These caravans were essential during the early and later Middle Ages for facilitating long-distance trade along the Silk Roads and maintaining networks of commerce that connected various oasis towns and market cities. Protection from robbers and provision of shelter were critical, which is why caravansaries, funded by the state or wealthy individuals, were established at regular intervals along these trade routes.
Muslim traders, to avoid carrying large amounts of gold across these perilous routes, often relied on letters of credit, a financial instrument that helped facilitate trade and ensured merchants' safety and economic efficiency.