Final answer:
Silk was the major trade item between China and the rest of the world along the historical Silk Roads, and China's favorable balance of trade resulted from their widespread export of silk, porcelain, and tea in exchange for silver.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major trade item between China and the rest of the world along the historical Silk Roads was silk. These ancient trade routes facilitated the exchange of a wide range of goods, and silk was particularly coveted in regions as diverse as Rome in the west to Africa in the south. The Silk Roads not only allowed for the exchange of goods like wool, paper, and porcelain but also ideas and cultures, greatly influencing societies along the routes.
China's domestic economy was so expansive that it rarely needed to import items from these routes, which was a source of frustration for European powers until they found items like tea and porcelain that China was willing to export in exchange for silver. By the 1700s, British trade with China revolved around tea primarily, but silk continued to be an important export that the Chinese traded for silver. The strength of the Chinese economy during these periods often put China in a favorable position in terms of trade balance.
Trade went through many transformations over time, and Chinese trade policies such as the Canton system permitted continued economic prosperity for China, ensuring that Europe remained eager for their goods, including silk, while strictly controlling what they imported.