They standardized weights, measures, writing and standards
Expanded trade, regional empires, and increased global trade are all effects of alliances and conquest.
You will need close allies to trade regionally in the beginning of the stages of the empire.
Afterwards, you will have to conquer other people to become a regional empire.
Lastly, you would have to trade with globally for more allies that are much more powerful
hope this helps
These leaders were called xyz, because they never gave the Patriots their names. This was known as the xyz affair.