How was trade and commerce different in the Early Middle Ages than during the Roman Empire?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Because of the lack of centralization, political unification, infrastructure, and connection with other empires, trade during the years between 500 to approximately 1100 declined dramatically. Trade was usually done on a local level, often by barter, and there was very little in the way of connection with the Byzantine empire, let alone with the Far East. An exception to this would be found with Jewish tradesmen who retained relations with the Byzantines, as well as some of the Italian states like Venice, but those didn't recover in trade until later. Several factors augmented this lack of ability to trade: the Roman roads, for example, had been largely dismantled, with stones used in buildings. Bandits were a plague along the highway, making travel difficult. Coinage was no longer standardized. Barter predominated in areas where coinage was no longer standard. There were fewer markets, and peasants tended to be more self-sufficient, making what they needed.