SOME of the most beautiful garments in the world—including the Japanese kimono, the Indian sari, and the Koreanhanbok—have something in common. Often, they are made of silk, a lustrous fabric that has been called the queen of fibers. From royalty of the past to commoners of the present, people worldwide have been captivated by the elegance of silk. But it has not always been so widely available
.In ancient times the production of silk was an enterprise exclusive to China. No one else knew how to produce it, and anyone in China who divulged the secret of the silkworm could be executed as a traitor. Not surprisingly, this monopoly on manufacturing made silk quite expensive. Throughout the Roman Empire, for example, silk was worth its weight in gold.
In time, Persia came to control all silk coming out of China. The price was still high, though, and efforts to bypass Persian merchants proved futile. Then, Byzantine Emperor Justinian devised a plan. About 550C.E., he sent two monks on a covert mission to China. Two years later they returned. Concealed in the hollow of their bamboo canes was the much-awaited treasure—silkworm eggs. The secret was out. The silk monopoly came to an end.
