# Smuggling of silkworm eggs into the Byzantine Empire

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggling_of_silkworm_eggs_into_the_Byzantine_Empire
Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/Smuggling-of-silkworm-eggs-into-the-Byzantine-Empire?index=0x644181307a1d6527e3c967ad1903e02268b6f3bd875cf7376761971b603f40f3872defc7
Submitted by tim on 2023-04-20 UTC, 1 upvote, 0 comments

## Summary

Two monks, with the support of Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I, smuggled living silkworms into the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire in the mid-6th century CE, establishing an indigenous silk industry. The monks had observed silk production in China by 551 CE, and in 552 CE they sought out Justinian I, agreeing to acquire silkworms in return for his promises. Because adult silkworms are fragile, they smuggled out eggs or very young larvae hidden in bamboo canes, and the expedition is estimated to have lasted two years. Silk factories then appeared in Constantinople, Beirut, Antioch, Tyre and Thebes, giving the empire a European silk monopoly.

## Article

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section appears to contradict itself. Please see the talk page for more information. (November 2022)

Stealing and smuggle of silkworm eggs into the Eastern Roman Empire

The Silk Road

DateMid-6th century (552/563 CE)

Location

Central Asia

ParticipantsTwo monks

OutcomeEstablishment of Eastern Roman silk industry

In the mid-6th century CE, two monks, with the support of the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I, acquired and smuggled living silkworms into the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, which led to the establishment of an indigenous Eastern Roman silk industry that long held a silk monopoly in Europe.

Silkworms

Silk 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.[1] With the rise of the Sassanid Empire and the subsequent Roman–Persian Wars, 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.[2] Consequently, the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I tried creating alternative trade routes to Sogdiana, which at the time had become a major silk-producing centre:[3] one to the north via Crimea, and one to the south via Ethiopia.[4] The failure of these efforts led Justinian I to look elsewhere since demand for this luxury good was high, even within his inner circle.[5]

565AD. Eastern Roman Empire, blue and purple; Sassanid Empire in yellow. Sassanid vassals, in orange, encompassing the Persian Gulf to the south, and reaching the Indus River in the southeast and the Kingdom of Khotan in the northeast (both silk-growing areas).

Sogdiana, located in Central Asia north of the Sassanid states. Silk was also produced in the Kingdom of Khotan (east of Sogdiana) at this time, and in the Indian subcontinent, east of the Sassanid Empire

Silk production also occurred in these areas of East Asia in 560AD, in the Northern and Southern dynasties or Six Dynasties period

Two unidentified monks (most likely members of the Nestorian Church[1][4]) who had been preaching Christianity in India (Church of the East in India), made their way to China by 551 CE.[6] While they were in China, they observed the intricate methods for raising silkworms and producing silk.[6] This was a key development, as the Eastern Romans had previously thought silk was made in India.[clarification needed][7] In 552 CE, the two monks sought out Justinian I.[4] In return for his generous but unknown promises, the monks agreed to acquire silkworms from China.[clarification needed][3] They most likely traveled a northern route along the Black Sea, taking them through the Transcaucasus and the Caspian Sea.[8]

Since adult silkworms are rather fragile and have to be constantly kept at an ideal temperature, lest they perish,[9][clarification needed] they used their contacts in Sogdiana to smuggle out silkworm eggs or very young larvae instead, which they hid within their bamboo canes.[clarification needed][8][4] Mulberry bushes, which are required for silkworms, were either given to the monks or already imported into the Eastern Roman Empire.[8] All in all, it is estimated that the entire expedition lasted two years.[10]

Byzantine silk

Shortly after the expedition there were silk factories in Constantinople, Beirut, Antioch, Tyre, and Thebes.[4] The acquired silkworms allowed the Eastern Roman Empire to have a silk monopoly in Europe. The acquisition also broke the Chinese and Persian silk monopolies.[8] The resulting monopoly was a foundation for the Eastern Roman economy for the next 650 years until its demise in 1204.[11] Silk clothes, especially those dyed in imperial purple, were almost always reserved for the elite in Byzantium, and their wearing was codified in sumptuary laws.[1] Silk production in the region around Constantinople, particularly in Thrace in northern Greece, has continued to the present (see: Silk museums of Soufli).

1 2 3 "Silk". University of Washington. Retrieved 20 April 2013.

↑ Norwich, John (1988), Byzantium: The Early Centuries pg. 265

1 2 Clare, Israel (1906), Library of Universal History: Mediaeval History pg. 1590

1 2 3 4 5 Norwich, pg. 266

↑ Walker, Alicia (2021). "Cross-cultural Artistic Interaction in the Early Byzantine Period". In Freeman, Evan (ed.). Smarthistory Guide to Byzantine Art.

1 2 Clare, pg. 1589

↑ Clare, pg. 1587

1 2 3 4 Patrick Hunt. "Late Roman Silk: Smuggling and Espionage in the 6th Century CE". Stanford University. Retrieved 20 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

↑ "The Smithsonian on Silk Production". Archived from the original on September 27, 2009.

↑ "History of Silk - The Silk Museum". Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.

↑ Muthesius, Anna (2003), Silk in the Medieval World pg. 326