The empire known for its extensive use of silk as a trade good is the Silk Road, mainly connected to the Han Dynasty of China. This ancient network of trade routes facilitated not only the exchange of silk but also spices, precious metals, and cultural ideas between the East and West. The Chinese developed sericulture, the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk, making it a highly prized commodity. The demand for silk greatly influenced trade patterns and economic systems, and silk became a symbol of luxury and status, significantly impacting global trade dynamics throughout history.