Europeans highly valued exotic silks and spices that was traded on the silk roads. But, what did the Europeans have that was worth trading for these goods?
I'm interested in the time period from when Western Europeans first started trading for these goods and before the discovery of the "new world". I know that gold and silver from the Americas fueled trade at that point.
Glass, particularly from Egypt (the Chinese didn’t develop glassmaking until the fifth century or so) and gold and other precious metals (the silk road was a long-term drain on Europe’s gold reserves, which is why they were so desperate for more by the time they discovered the Americas). Also frankincense from the Red Sea. And the Syrians actually exported silk back to China: they took Chinese silk brocades, unravelled them, and wove them into silk gauze that was finer than the Chinese themselves were able to produce.
In general, trade in both directions was in small and/or lightweight precious items that could easily be carried long distances.
hi! you'll find more responses in this recent post, which includes links to several more