jan 1, 60 - West becomes aware of silk production

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The west, especially those in Rome, initially thought that silk was a vegetable product grown on trees and hence valued it at its weight in gold However, in 60CE, the true origins of silk as a product of the spinning of silkworms was revealed to the west. Up to this point, the Chinese had purposefully and skillfully masked the true origins of their prized product of silk, keeping details regarding it a secret. Once the word came out, the Chinese continued to safeguard their silkworms and their process of harvesting the silk.

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