Silk production has a long history and colourful history unknown to most people. Scientific discoveries have shown that silk production began in China around 2,500 B.C., although it could be much older. For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one for the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone telling the secret of silkworms or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished in prison.
At one time silk was served only for the Chinese emperor. Step by step, others began wearing silk. In addition to being used for clothing, silk was used to make musical instruments, fishing lines, ropes and even paper. During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money.
However, the Chinese finally lost their monopoly(垄断) on silk production. It reached Korea in around 200 B.C. when some Chinese people arrived there. Silk production came to India in 300 A.D. In 500 A.D., silk production came to Europe when travelers smuggled(偷运) out silkworms in empty pipes of bamboo. These were used to set up silk factories in Rome, although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best.
Silk was brought to Rome from China by means of the Silk Road. There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea. Especially the land route had a huge effect in history. All sorts of trade goods were passed along this road. Ideas travelled the Silk Road, too. For example, the religion of Buddhism(佛教) was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road. The Silk Road created the first international culture, showing many people the ideas and treasures of both Western and Chinese cultures.
