Question

Trade increased during the Han dynasty because of

Answer 1

"Because the Han dynasty economy relied largely on the production output of the peasants, the government removed heavy taxation of small land owners and imposed heavier taxes on merchants." 

&

"But perhaps the greatest contributor, to the Han dynasty economy’s affluence was the silk trade and the opening up of the Silk Road. The invention of the loom enabled silk to be produced and traded to the western people through the Silk Road. Silk was even used as a currency and a tribute to the nomads of the northwestern steppe."

Heavy taxes were imposed on the peasant population. Before the Han Dynasty the economy was badly damaged. Silk was a big influence to trade going up.

Read more at http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-economy/