History · 2
According to Roman accounts, what did Roman emperors mistakenly believe was the source of Chinese silk?
Answer
A tree
Roman writers such as Pliny the Elder described silk as a fine wool combed from the leaves of trees in the land of the Seres, unaware it was spun from silkworm cocoons.
💡 Did you know?
Chinese silk production remained secret for 3,000 years. Roman emperors paid enormous sums trying to learn the monopoly's source, believing it was a tree rather than insect cocoons.
Other options people guess
- A rare desert flower
- A type of moss
- A mineral deposit
Topics
- silk-road
- ancient-rome
- china
- trade
- ancient-history
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