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by 551 CE. While they were in China, they observed the intricate methods for raising silkworms and producing silk. This was a key development, as the Romans had previously thought silk was made in India. In 552 CE, the two monks sought out
Justinian I. In return for his generous but unknown promises,
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are rather fragile and have to be constantly kept at an ideal temperature, lest they perish, they used their contacts in
Sogdiana to smuggle out silkworm eggs or very young larvae instead, which they hid within their bamboo canes.
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167:, importing silk to Europe became increasingly difficult and expensive. The Persians strictly controlled trade in their territory and would suspend trade in times of war. Consequently, the Roman Emperor
347:. The acquired silkworms allowed the Roman Empire to have a silk monopoly in Europe. The acquisition also broke the Chinese and Persian silk monopolies. The resulting monopoly was a foundation for the
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bushes, which are required for silkworms, were either given to the monks or already imported into the Roman Empire. All in all, it is estimated that the entire expedition lasted two years.
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was first produced sometime during the third millennium BCE by the
Chinese. By the first century CE, there was a steady flow of silk into the Roman Empire. With the rise of the
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183:. The failure of these efforts led Justinian I to look elsewhere since demand for this luxury good was high, even within his inner circle.
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Walker, Alicia (2021). "Cross-cultural
Artistic Interaction in the Early Byzantine Period". In Freeman, Evan (ed.).
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565AD. Roman Empire, blue and purple; Sassanid Empire in yellow. Sassanid vassals, in orange, encompassing the
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the monks agreed to acquire silkworms from China. They most likely traveled a northern route along the
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6th-century event in which two monks smuggled silkworm eggs into the Roman Empire from China
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for the next 650 years until its demise in 1204. Silk clothes, especially those dyed in
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Clare, Israel (1906), Library of
Universal History: Mediaeval History pg. 1590
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into the Roman Empire, which led to the establishment of an indigenous
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501:"Late Roman Silk: Smuggling and Espionage in the 6th Century CE"
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In the mid-6th century CE, two monks, with the support of the
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north of the
Sassanid states. Silk was also produced in the
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Stealing and smuggle of silkworm eggs into the Roman Empire
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Shortly after the expedition there were silk factories in
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in northern Greece, has continued to the present (see:
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Smuggling of silkworm eggs into the
Byzantine Empire
268:Two unidentified monks (most likely members of the
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246:Silk production also occurred in these areas of
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230:(east of Sogdiana) at this time, and in the
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503:. Stanford University. Archived from
527:"The Smithsonian on Silk Production"
115:Establishment of Roman silk industry
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607:6th century in the Byzantine Empire
545:"History of Silk - The Silk Museum"
457:Smarthistory Guide to Byzantine Art
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252:Northern and Southern dynasties
199:to the south, and reaching the
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412:Byzantium: The Early Centuries
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91:Mid-6th century (552/563 CE)
45:appears to contradict itself
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278:Church of the East in India
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563:Silk in the Medieval World
392:. University of Washington
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272:) who had been preaching
203:in the southeast and the
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561:Muthesius, Anna (2003),
43:This article or section
533:on September 27, 2009.
410:Norwich, John (1988),
365:Silk museums of Soufli
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136:that long held a silk
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274:Christianity in India
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53:for more information.
602:6th century in China
232:Indian subcontinent
163:and the subsequent
134:Roman silk industry
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165:Roman–Persian Wars
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250:in 560AD, in the
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16:(Redirected from
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59:November 2022
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509:. Retrieved
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394:. Retrieved
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300:Since adult
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282:way to China
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224:Central Asia
197:Persian Gulf
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104:Participants
99:Central Asia
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587:Sericulture
582:Justinian I
295:Caspian Sea
201:Indus river
169:Justinian I
140:in Europe.
126:Justinian I
576:Categories
264:Expedition
144:Background
597:Smuggling
302:silkworms
287:Black Sea
248:East Asia
152:Silkworms
130:silkworms
107:Two monks
51:talk page
511:20 April
396:20 April
307:Mulberry
293:and the
220:Sogdiana
181:Ethiopia
173:Sogdiana
138:monopoly
96:Location
565:pg. 326
414:pg. 265
371:Sources
337:Antioch
112:Outcome
390:"Silk"
361:Thrace
345:Thebes
343:, and
333:Beirut
313:Impact
258:period
177:Crimea
513:2013
398:2013
341:Tyre
157:Silk
88:Date
367:).
254:or
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