jan 1, 552 - Two Monks Seek Justinian I

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Two unidentified monks reached China in 551CE. While they were in China, they were able to observe the production of silk and the raising of silkworms firsthand. This was a key discovery, as the Byzantines previously thought silk had come from India. These two monks sought Justinian I in 552CE, and in return for unknown but generous promises, they agreed to smuggle silkworms from China back to the Byzantine empire. Justinian I was tired of paying exorbitant prices for Chinese silk, making this the perfect solution to kick start a local silk industry.

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