Final answer:
The Pax Mongolia facilitated trade through the exchange of goods and safe travel, but its decline led to the disintegration of the Silk Road and the search for alternate trade routes. Merchants had a higher status and were not heavily taxed under Mongol rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pax Mongolia, or Mongol Peace, had a significant impact on trade during the Mongolian Empire. It facilitated trade through the exchange of goods and the long-distance travel of people and ideas. The Mongols imposed peace and justice on those who accepted their rule, which allowed for safer trade routes and increased commerce. Additionally, the taxation of all producing people funded the Pax Mongolica.
However, as the Mongol Empire disintegrated, so did the Silk Road, which was an important trade route during that time. This led Europeans to seek alternate routes to Asia for trade, such as Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492. The end of the Mongol Peace also resulted in increased risks and costs associated with caravan trade.
Despite some negative impacts, under Mongol rule, merchants had a higher status and were not faced with confiscatory taxation as they were during the rule of traditional Chinese dynasties. The Mongols also established a postal-station system that provided rest and supplies for merchants during their travels.