Wednesday, May 21, 2008
History of China's Silk
China's silk was first discovered in china as long ago as 2700 BC. If you knew about the silk you couldn't tell anyone about silk making, if you did they would kill you. Chinese people developed a new way by using silk to make clothing since silk was discovered. This silk clothing became extremely popular. Emperor Wu Di of western Han Dynasty decided to develop trade with the other counties. For 60 years of war, the worlds famous ancient Silk Road was built up at cost of many losses of life and treasures. From then on, Chinese silk, and other Chinese inventions, were passed on to Europe. Roman woman were crazy for Chinese silk. Before silk was invented the Romans usedlinin cloth, animal skin and wool fabic for clothing. For the Romans it was a sign you were wealth and high social status for them to wear silk clothing. Thousands of years have passed since china first discovered silk. Some counties are trying to make silk without silkworms let's see if it's true.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Silk was not invented, but discovered. The silk worm has been around for thousands, and the silk is an excreation of the silk worm its self.
I think that is really interesting that if you knew how to create silk, you were sworn to secrecy. It must have been a hard secret to keep because silk was so highly popular. If you worked with silk you must have been highly trusted! Very cool topic Kate!
This is very interesting information.
If knowing how to make silk was to be kept a secret, why did they want to share it with all of Europe? How did China benefit from that?
Post a Comment