Answer:
The silk road was the many trade route (or routes) for the Mongol empire. Unlike previous Chinese dynasties, the Mongol Empire protected the silk road and the merchants on it. This meant that it was safer for merchants to carry more goods and currency with them while traveling. The new safety of these routes increased the amount of trade between the West and China. During this time period, China was a very advanced state that traded with many countries. The silk road allowed the Mongols to discover new sciences and cultural traits of other regions. This led to the diffusion of ideas into China, which affected culture, politics, and economics. Additionally, this cultural diffusion allowed the Mongol Empire to have more religious tolerance than other empires before it.
Overall, the silk road was the main economic opportunity for the Mongol empire and brought in many goods that could not be made in China.