“Ancient Chinese society was like a ladder. On the very top was the emperor and his royal family. [...] The very bottom of the ladder were entertainers,soldiers, and servants who had little hope to climb up the social structure.” “Many members of the royal family owned large amounts of land, often in the countryside. They had few business worries, and they didn’t have to work. Their wealth came from their landholdings.”

Central Idea:The Silk Road was an important in China’s trade

 The Silk Road was important because it helped to generate trade and commerce between a number of different kingdoms and empires. This helped for ideas, culture, inventions, and unique products to spread across much of the settled world.Later, under the rule of the Yuan Dynasty set up by Kublai Khan of the Mongols, trade from China along the Silk Road would reach its peak. During this time the Mongols controlled a significant portion of the trade route, enabling Chinese merchants to travel safely. Also, merchants were granted more social status during the Mongol rule than any other dynasty.