Why might people in the West have wanted to trade people in the east

The people in the West wanted to have the sophisticated goods of the East, especially the lucrative silk and other luxury Asian products.

Explanation:

The Roman Empire felt a strong attraction for Chinese silk. They were mesmerized by its beauty and how luxurious-looking it was that they tried to replace yarn with silk. This became a symbol of wealth and was sought after by women. This made China very rich, which saddened the Roman Senate. A decree was then made that prevented people from wearing clothing made of silk.

The route for trading was named "Silk Road." It influenced how the different civilizations were shaped in the area.