How did the Mongols support trade along the Silk Road?

The Mongol Empire facilitated trade along the Silk Road by establishing a period of relative stability known as the Pax Mongolica, which brought vast Eurasian territories under a single political authority.123

To support and secure commerce, the Mongols implemented several key measures:

• Security and Protection: Merchants received military protection for their caravans, and the empire standardized taxes and tolls across many regions to reduce trade disruptions.13
• Official Passports: The Mongols issued paiza (or geregee), official passports that granted merchants imperial protection and facilitated safer travel.13
• Infrastructure: They expanded the yam, an extensive network of postal and supply relay stations that allowed for rapid communication and travel across the empire.13
• Economic Partnerships: The state supported ortoqs, which were partnerships that pooled capital for long-distance commercial ventures.3

By creating these secure networks, the Mongols encouraged unprecedented levels of cultural and economic exchange between East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, though these same connections also facilitated the spread of the Black Death.23