Trade between China and the Mediterranean Region

When did trade between China and the Mediterranean region begin?

How long ago did trade between China and the Mediterranean region start?

Answer:

The trade between China and the Mediterranean region began 130 B.C during the Han Dynasty.

Final answer: Trade between China and the Mediterranean commenced over 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty, expanding significantly with the rise of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Explanation:

Trade between China and the Mediterranean region began over two millennia ago. During the Han Dynasty around 138 BC, China officially opened trade with the West. This marked the beginning of a long-standing trade relationship that expanded over the centuries.

Commanderies were established in the Korean Peninsula in 108 BC, forming a crucial part of the trade network connecting Manchuria, the Middle East, and Europe. This network facilitated the exchange of goods, technologies, and cultural ideas across Eurasia.

By the second century AD, the reach of this trade system extended as far as Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula, with Indian and Roman artifacts found in these regions. The Ming Dynasty, which rose to power in 1439, and the Qing Dynasty in the 1600s, played pivotal roles in the expansion of trade.

China's dominance in luxury items like silk and porcelain further fueled global trade dynamics. This historical trade relationship paved the way for cultural exchange and economic growth in both regions.