![[Media/512610214_1826728471218955_1498725114212217443_n.jpg]] The money used along the Silk Road included Abbasid gold dinars, Tang silver ingots, and Samanid (Bukhara) silver dirhams. Copper coins were not used in long-distance trade because they were too heavy. Paper notes called *Sakk* (what we would call checks) were also used, beginning in Harun's era. And *Suftaga* (letters of credit) were used by medieval Jewish merchants called Radhanites and by Sogdian (Uzbek) caravan drivers. Because many of these merchants operated in family or clan based businesses, informal transfers based on trust, called *Hawala*, were also widely used. These paper, credit, or trust based payment systems had two important advantages. First, gold and silver were heavy and carrying them reduced the volume of goods a merchant could transport. Second, gold and silver were easily stolen during long journeys over dangerous lands. Throughout history, cash has typically been a last resort, used only by people who are total strangers, who will never do business with each other again. It is perfect for anonymous, one-off transactions; but unnecessary where ongoing networks can be formed. ----- Next: [[10.5 - Carolingians]] Back: [[10.3 - Silk Road]]