The Coveted Secret of Silk Production
The Roman Empire had coveted the silk of China for centuries but was entirely dependent on trade along the Silk Road to acquire it, unable to produce the fabric domestically. Finally, in the year 552 AD, a significant turning point occurred when two Indian monks embarked on a journey to China. There, they managed to learn the closely guarded silk production methods and, upon their return to Constantinople, Emperor Justinian entrusted them with a critical task – to smuggle silkworms out of China.
This daring mission required a grueling 2-year, 6,500-kilometer journey back to China. Upon their successful return with the silkworms, domestic silk production began in Constantinople, ending the empire’s dependence on the Silk Road and establishing a Byzantine silk monopoly that would flourish for an astonishing 700 years, significantly boosting the empire’s economy and influence.