Final answer:
During Kublai Khan's reign, popular products for trade included silk, lacquerware, grain, porcelain, tea, sugar, and various luxury goods such as wine and spices, all reflecting the empire's wealth and the cultural importance of trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the reign of Kublai Khan, the products popular for trade included a variety of goods that reflected the vastness and richness of the Mongol Empire. Some of the key commodities that were highly valued and widely traded included:
- Silk: Prized for its lightness and softness, silk was an important indicator of power and wealth, used for clothing and bedding.
- Lacquerware: Luxurious and artistic, these items were often used in domestic settings and as artistic objects.
- Grain: Essential for sustenance, grain was a staple commodity for trade.
- Porcelain: Known for its lustrous sheen and unmatched quality, porcelain emerged as a major export product, particularly from cities like Jingdezhen.
- Tea: Cultivated extensively, tea became an important agricultural product to trade.
- Sugar: With specialized mills, sugar was produced and sold to candy-makers.
- Luxury goods such as wine, spices like pepper and ginger, and other manufactured goods highlighted the empire's control over the Silk Roads and the ability to distribute exotic and desirable products.
These goods reflect not just the economic practices of the time but the cultural and political significance of trade during Kublai Khan's rule.