Silk production has a long and colourful history unknown to most people.
Silk
production
has
a
long
and
colourful
history
unknown
to
most
people
.
Scientific discoveries have shown that silk production existed in China from around 2500 B.C., although it could be much older.
Scientific
discoveries
have
shown
that
silk
production
existed
in
China
from
around
2500
B.C.
,
although
it
could
be
much
older
.
For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one for the most closely protected secrets in history.
For
hundreds
of
years
,
China
kept
the
secret
of
silk
to
itself
as
one
for
the
most
closely
protected
secrets
in
history
.
Anyone revealing the secret of silkworms or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished by death.
Anyone
revealing
the
secret
of
silkworms
or
trying
to
take
silkworm
eggs
out
of
ancient
China
was
punished
by
death
.
At one time silk was reserved only for the Chinese emperor.
At
one
time
silk
was
reserved
only
for
the
Chinese
emperor
.
Gradually, others began wearing silk.
Gradually
,
others
began
wearing
silk
.
In addition to being used for clothing, silk came to have industrial uses in ancient China, something that happened in the West only in modern times.
In
addition
to
being
used
for
clothing
,
silk
came
to
have
industrial
uses
in
ancient
China
,
something
that
happened
in
the
West
only
in
modern
times
.
Silk was used to make musical instruments, fishing lines, weapons, ropes and even paper.
Silk
was
used
to
make
musical
instruments
,
fishing
lines
,
weapons
,
ropes
and
even
paper
.
During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money.
During
the
Han
Dynasty
silk
became
a
form
of
money
.
Farmers paid taxes in both rice and silk.
Farmers
paid
taxes
in
both
rice
and
silk
.
The prices of goods were calculated in lengths of silk just as they had once been calculated in gold.
The
prices
of
goods
were
calculated
in
lengths
of
silk
just
as
they
had
once
been
calculated
in
gold
.
The importance of silk is even reflected in the Chinese language.
The
importance
of
silk
is
even
reflected
in
the
Chinese
language
.
For example, of the 5000 most common Chinese characters, around 500 have silk as their "key".
For
example
,
of
the
5000
most
common
Chinese
characters
,
around
500
have
silk
as
their
``
key
''
.
In spite of their secrecy, the Chinese eventually lost their monopoly on silk production.
In
spite
of
their
secrecy
,
the
Chinese
eventually
lost
their
monopoly
on
silk
production
.
It reached Korea in around 200 B.C.
It
reached
Korea
in
around
200
B.C
.
when immigrants from China arrived there.
when
immigrants
from
China
arrived
there
.
Silk production came to India in 300 A.D..
Silk
production
came
to
India
in
300
A.D..
It was not until 500 A.D. that silk production came to Europe when travellers smuggled out silkworms in hollow tubes of bamboo.
It
was
not
until
500
A.D.
that
silk
production
came
to
Europe
when
travellers
smuggled
out
silkworms
in
hollow
tubes
of
bamboo
.
These were used to establish silk industry in Rome (modern-day Italy), although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best.
These
were
used
to
establish
silk
industry
in
Rome
(
modern-day
Italy
)
,
although
Chinese
silk
was
still
considered
to
be
the
best
.
Silk was brought to Rome from China by means of the Silk Road.
Silk
was
brought
to
Rome
from
China
by
means
of
the
Silk
Road
.
There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea.
There
were
actually
two
Silk
Roads
,
one
over
land
and
one
on
the
sea
.
The land route in particular had a huge effect in history.
The
land
route
in
particular
had
a
huge
effect
in
history
.
All sorts of trade goods--silver, gold, jade, porcelain--passed along this road.
All
sorts
of
trade
goods
--
silver
,
gold
,
jade
,
porcelain
--
passed
along
this
road
.
Ideas travelled the Silk Road too.
Ideas
travelled
the
Silk
Road
too
.
For example the religion of Buddhism was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road.
For
example
the
religion
of
Buddhism
was
carried
to
China
from
India
by
traders
on
the
Silk
Road
.
The Silk Road created the first international culture, exposing many people to the ideas and treasures of both Western and Chinese cultures.
The
Silk
Road
created
the
first
international
culture
,
exposing
many
people
to
the
ideas
and
treasures
of
both
Western
and
Chinese
cultures
.
Silk production has a long and colourful history unknown to most people. Scientific discoveries have shown that silk production existed in China from around 2500 B.C., although it could be much older. For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one for the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone revealing the secret of silkworms or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished by death.  At one time silk was reserved only for the Chinese emperor. Gradually, others began wearing silk. In addition to being used for clothing, silk came to have industrial uses in ancient China, something that happened in the West only in modern times. Silk was used to make musical instruments, fishing lines, weapons, ropes and even paper. During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money. Farmers paid taxes in both rice and silk. The prices of goods were calculated in lengths of silk just as they had once been calculated in gold. The importance of silk is even reflected in the Chinese language. For example, of the 5000 most common Chinese characters, around 500 have silk as their "key".  In spite of their secrecy, the Chinese eventually lost their monopoly on silk production. It reached Korea in around 200 B.C. when immigrants from China arrived there. Silk production came to India in 300 A.D.. It was not until 500 A.D. that silk production came to Europe when travellers smuggled out silkworms in hollow tubes of bamboo. These were used to establish silk industry in Rome (modern-day Italy), although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best.  Silk was brought to Rome from China by means of the Silk Road. There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea. The land route in particular had a huge effect in history. All sorts of trade goods--silver, gold, jade, porcelain--passed along this road. Ideas travelled the Silk Road too. For example the religion of Buddhism was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road. The Silk Road created the first international culture, exposing many people to the ideas and treasures of both Western and Chinese cultures.