What were the difficulties and dangers of the merchant’s activities in the Middle Ages?

1. Trade caravans were often attacked by robbers on land and pirates at sea;

2. Merchant ships could get caught in a storm at sea and sink, depriving the merchant of people and profits;

3. The government could raise taxes and duties, also depriving merchants of most of the profits;

4. The state could also take goods away from the merchant if this corresponded to the needs of the state. In this case, it was good if the authorities gave the merchant a receipt;

5. Finally, the state could declare a monopoly on the sale of goods.