Table of Contents
Silk was one of the most important commodities in the Byzantine economy, used by the state both as a means of payment and of diplomacy. After the reign of Justinian I, the manufacture and sale of silk became an imperial monopoly, only processed in imperial factories, and sold to authorized buyers.
What was the impact of the silk industry on the Byzantine economy?
How did silk affect the Byzantine Empire? The acquired silk worms allowed the Byzantine Empire to have a silk monopoly in Europe. The acquisition also broke the Chinese and Persian silk monopolies. The resulting monopoly was a foundation for the Byzantine economy for the next 650 years until its demise in 1204.
How did silk make its way to Byzantine?
In the mid-6th century AD, two monks, with the support of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, acquired and smuggled silkworm eggs into the Byzantine Empire, which led to the establishment of an indigenous Byzantine silk industry.
Why was exporting silkworm eggs a crime?
Exporting silkworms, silkworm eggs or mulberry seeds was punishable by death. It was more profitable to export the finished product than the means of production. The Chinese monopoly on the secrets of silk production and manufacture was eventually broken.
What is silk weaving develop in the Byzantine Empire?
How did silk weaving develop in the Byzantine Empire? Byzantine merchants smuggled silk-worm eggs out of China. Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Constantinople. It’s location on the waterways was important.
Who was the head of the Byzantine Empire?
Emperor Constantine the Great
| Emperor of the Romans | |
|---|---|
| Pretender(s) | None |
Who is the highest church official in the Byzantine Empire?
chapter 9
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| the highest official in the Byzantine Church is? | Patriarch |
| Mongol armies who ruled much of medieval Russia | Golden Horde |
| An area of southeasters Europe extending into the Mediterranean Sea | Balkin pennesil |
| A byzantine emperor determined to revive ancient Rome. | Justina |
Did ancient Rome have silk?
Chinese silk in the Roman Empire During the 1st century BC silk was still a rare commodity in the Roman world; by the 1st century AD this valuable trade item became much more widely available.
What important gift did the Byzantine writers give to the rest of world?
Answer: Byzantine writers copied and preserved the writings of the Greeks and Romans. Explanation: One of the most important contributions of the Bizantine Empire to the world was the fact that Bizantine writers continued their work after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
What was Justinian’s greatest accomplishment?
Among Justinian’s major accomplishments were:
- He extended the Byzantine Empire dramatically. Justinian extended the empire back into areas that had previously been part of the Western Roman Empire.
- He codified Roman law.
- He had a great deal of building done in Constantinople.
How long was silk kept a secret?
Anyone caught telling the secret or taking silkworms out of China was put to death. The Chinese managed to keep silk a secret for over 1000 years.
What is Constantinople called today?
Constantinople is an ancient city in modern-day Turkey that’s now known as Istanbul.
How was Constantinople affected by the Silk Road?
Nestorian Christianity made its way to China in the 7th century A.D. over the routes of the Silk Road. So in conclusion, Constantinople, as well as the Byzantine Empire were prominent players in the Silk Road trade. Constantinople imported and exported various goods from afar, such as Christian holy relics and silk.
Who burned down Constantinople?
Crusaders
| Sack of Constantinople | |
|---|---|
| Unknown | Unknown |
| 2,000 Greek civilians killed by Crusaders | |
How was silk stolen from China?
Legend has it that two monks hid silkworm eggs inside a bamboo pole to smuggle them out of China, where they were guarded as closely as state secrets. The monks then presented the eggs to Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople, where he created a thriving silk industry.
Who appointed the head of the church in the Byzantine Empire?
The Emperor appointed the church head. Churches had a prominent place in Byzantine architecture. Religious controversy caused a split between the two branches of Christianity ,which further separated the empire from the West.
Why was the Byzantine Empire so rich?
What made the Byzantine Empire rich and successful for so long, and why did it finally crumble? Constantinople sat in the middle of a trade route,sea and land. Its wealth came from trade and its strong military. Constantinople remained secure and prosperous while cities in western Roman empire crumbles.
What type of control did the Byzantine government have over the production of silk cloth?
The Byzantine capital of Constantinople was the first significant silk-weaving center in Europe. After the reign of Justinian I, the manufacture and sale of silk became an imperial monopoly, only processed in imperial factories, and sold to authorized buyers.
How did trade impact the Byzantine Empire?
Long distance trade was an important element in the Byzantine economy, particularly for the use of luxury goods from the middle and far east. Silk production and trade became an important part of the Byzantine economy from the 6th century onward. Long distance trade was very active in the 4th and early 6th centuries.
How did Khotan know the secret of silk production?
However, Khotan also kept the secret, so the mystery of silk continued for the westerners. By 300 CE Japan learned the secrets of silk production when a Japanese expedition managed to take some silkworm eggs and also four young girls who were trained in the art of creating the material.
What economic advantage did the Byzantine Empire have over the West?
What economic advantages did the Byzantine Empire possess? The Byzantium Empire produced massive amount of agricultural surplus, traded with other regions of the world freely, and had a good social organization.
What caused Rome’s economy to weaken?
In the third century, Rome’s emperors embraced harmful economic policies which led to Rome’s decline. First, the limitation of gold and silver resources led to inflation. Monetary demand caused emperors to mint coins with less gold, silver, and bronze. Secondly, excessive upper-class wealth hurt the Roman economy.
Did Marco Polo steal silk?
4. Marco Polo spent much of his journey as an envoy for the Mongol ruler Kublai Kahn. The Polos were merchants who dealt in rare items like silk, gems and spices, but their extensive travels were more than just a trading mission.
How were slaves treated in the Byzantine Empire?
From 11th century, semi-feudal relations largely replaced slavery. Under the influence of Christianity, views of slavery shifted: by the 10th century slaves were viewed as potential citizens (the slave as a subject), rather than property or chattel (the slave as an object).
Who brought silkworms to Europe?
Silkworms were introduced to Europe during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, in the early 6th century AD. According to tradition, some silkworms were brought to Constantinople by a pair of Nestorian monks, along with the knowledge of how to cultivate them.
