The Han also managed to achieve a degree of peace, securing alliances with or victories against various steppe tribes. They formed an alliance with certain tribes in 50 CE, and sent an army across the [[Gobi Desert]] in [[89]] CE which defeated certain tribes of Xiongnu, who then fled westward, becoming the "Huns" who then threatened Europe. Han armies also expanded west in this period as far as the shores of the Caspian Sea (in [[97]] CE); coupled with certain government policies favorable to merchants, this proved a considerable boon to the Silk Road trade. | The Han also managed to achieve a degree of peace, securing alliances with or victories against various steppe tribes. They formed an alliance with certain tribes in 50 CE, and sent an army across the [[Gobi Desert]] in [[89]] CE which defeated certain tribes of Xiongnu, who then fled westward, becoming the "Huns" who then threatened Europe. Han armies also expanded west in this period as far as the shores of the Caspian Sea (in [[97]] CE); coupled with certain government policies favorable to merchants, this proved a considerable boon to the Silk Road trade. |