In the ancient world, who would have been most likely to spread new ideas and tools from one civilization to another?

In the ancient world, the people who traveled long distances for the purpose of trade would have been most likely to help spread new ideas and tools from one civilization to another.

Explanation:

The ancient world which is characterized by the absence of tools and facilities of easy communication, must have witnessed dissemination of the ideas and information about cultures, tools, arts, improvised methods of agriculture and other occupations, etc.,from one civilization to another through the merchants and traders that traveled over long distances in order to reach out to the regions in which they were hopeful of expanding their trade.