What was the factor that made the Han Dynasty of China such a healthy trade environment?
The Han Dynasty was notable also for its military prowess. The empire expanded westward as far as the rim of the Tarim Basin (in modern Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region), making possible relatively secure caravan traffic across Central Asia. The paths of caravan traffic are often called the “Silk Road” because the route was used to export Chinese silk. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty Silk Route is an interconnected series of routes through Southern Asia traversed by caravan and ocean vessel, and connecting Chang’an (today’s Xi’an), China, with Antioch, Asia Minor, as well as other points. It extends over 8,000 km (5,000 miles). Its influence carried over into Japan and Korea.
