Final answer:
Under Mongol rule, the importance of large cities as trading centers increased. The Mongols established a postal-station system and improved trade routes, which led to the growth of towns and cities with daily markets and permanent shops. Merchants benefited from favorable taxation policies and a higher status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of large cities as trading centers increased under Mongol rule. The Mongols established a postal-station system that allowed merchants to rest and secure supplies during their travels. This infrastructure of trade led to the growth of towns and cities, with markets open every day and permanent shops.
Merchants also benefited from not facing confiscatory taxation under the Mongols, unlike during the rule of the traditional Chinese dynasties. The Mongols placed a higher status on merchants than the traditional Confucian society did.
The Mongols also improved trade routes, making travel easier, safer, and quicker. They established a network of interconnected relay stations where travelers could rest, trade, and swap information. The Mongols standardized weights and measures, money, and even time to facilitate trade. However, along with goods and people, diseases also spread along these trade routes.