Roman Empire and the Silk Road

In 30 BCE, Roman had conquered Egypt affected the commercial and communication between India, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, China, Middle East, Africa and also Europe blossomed on an unprecedented scale.

Marine and Land were closer than before, a lot of developments were transferred from Europe, Asia and Africa. Transportation became more convenient so that intercontinental trade and communication became regular.

Romans and Chinese Silk

Romans were so crazed for Chinese silk but they believed that silk was obtained fro, trees but actually not silk is an animal fiber; it’s the product from silkworm.

China or what European called The Seres was very famous in producing silk with the best quality. As Romans were so crazed in Chinese silk after its were traveled along the silk road to Roman it would cause a huge of gold

The Senate issued, in vain, several edicts to prohibit the wearing of silk, on economic and moral grounds: the importation of Chinese silk caused a huge outflow of gold, and silk clothes were considered to be decadent and immoral:

"I can see clothes of silk, if materials that do not hide the body, nor even one's decency, can be called clothes... Wretched flocks of maids labour so that the adulteress may be visible through her thin dress, so that her husband has no more acquaintance than any outsider or foreigner with his wife's body" (Seneca the Younger (c.3 BCE–65 CE, Declamations Vol. I).