What event marked a turning point for trade between Asia and Europe?

The establishment of the Pax Mongolica was a significant turning point for trade between Asia and Europe because it created a period of peace and stability across the vast Mongolian Empire during the 13th and 14th centuries. Under the Pax Mongolica, trade routes were secured, and merchants could travel safely across regions that were previously dangerous due to warfare and instability. This facilitated a flow of goods, ideas, and culture between East and West, particularly along the Silk Road. Goods such as silk, spices, and precious metals became more accessible to European markets, significantly enhancing commercial exchanges and leading to greater economic interdependence between regions.

The other events listed, while significant in their own right, did not produce the same level of impact on trade at this specific junction in history. The conquests of Alexander the Great expanded trade networks but primarily set the stage for later interactions rather than establishing a peaceful trading environment. The founding of the Silk Road laid the groundwork for trade, but it was the Pax Mongolica that ensured safe passage and a flourishing trade culture. The Age of Exploration, which came later, opened new routes and passages, but it was through the stabilizing influence of the Mongol Empire that trade was significantly revitalized before this period.