Who was controlling what was being traded along the silk road?

The Silk Road was primarily controlled by various empires and states, including the Han Dynasty, the Mongol Empire, and the Byzantine Empire, which established trade routes and provided protection for merchants. Local traders and middlemen often facilitated the exchange of goods, with the flow of trade influenced by demand for luxury items such as silk, spices, and precious metals. Additionally, cultural and political factors played a significant role in determining what was traded and how trade was conducted along the route.