Final answer:
The expansion of commerce in the Hellenistic world was a product of factors such as the specialization of goods, the establishment of trading posts, and the exploration of new regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expansion of commerce in the Hellenistic world was a product of several factors, but it was not a result of technological or engineering achievements. The pace of technological change in the ancient world was slow, and the focus during the Hellenistic period was on the spread of ideas and knowledge.
One of the major factors that contributed to the expansion of commerce was the specialization of goods and the development of a market economy. People no longer had to make everything for themselves, and they could trade their specialized products for goods that were of higher quality and produced by others.
The Hellenistic period also saw the establishment of trading posts and the exploration of new regions. The Ptolemies, for example, supported trading posts along the Red Sea and as far south as present-day Eritrea and Ethiopia. This allowed for the trade of goods from the African interior, such as ivory and gold.