Silk

Silk
   Silk production was a privatized state industry, centered in Constantinople (q.v.) and also, from the 11th century, in Athens, Corinth, Thebes, and Thessalonike (qq.v.). Justinian I (q.v.) established the industry by first smuggling silkworm eggs from China (q.v.). He then created the mulberry-tree plantations necessary to support silkworms, and he set up the factories necessary for weaving. The industry's importance was twofold: as a supplier of rich court and church vestments and furnishings (e.g., for curtains and tapestries) and as a controlled luxury item for foreign trade. The Book of the Eparch (q.v.) describes the guild (q.v.) that controlled all aspects of its production. Exported silk, which was as highly coveted as gold by foreign rulers, was rigorously monitored. Much of it was exported as imperial gifts or tribute. Byzantine officials, themselves dressed in the finest silks, reminded ambassador Liutprand of Cremona (q.v.) that in his native Saxony people wore the skins of animals, a remark that infuriated Liutprand. Liutprand's attempt in 968 to smuggle five pieces of purple silk out of Constantinople for Otto I (q.v.) met with failure; they were confiscated. Byzantium's monopoly of silk began to erode in the 12th century. In 1147 Roger II (q.v.) of Sicily (q.v.) attacked Corinth and Thebes (qq.v.), carrying off their silk weavers. Despite this the silk industry survived. According to Benjamin of Tudela (q.v.), in the 1160s the silk industry in Thebes (q.v.) was flourishing.

Historical Dictionary of Byzantium . .

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  • silkələnmə — «Silkələnmək»dən f. is …   Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti

  • silkəmə — «Silkəmək»dən f. is …   Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti

  • Silk — Silk, n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk , and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. {Sericeous}. {Serge} a woolen stuff.] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • SILK — SILK  формат аудиоданных и аудиокодек используемый Skype. Разработан компанией Skype Limited. SILK был разработан для замены другого кодека  SVOPC также созданного компанией Skype Limited. SILK являлся отдельной веткой разработки кодека …   Википедия

  • SILK — (Heb. מֶשִׁי, meshi). Silk is mentioned once in the Bible by Ezekiel (16:10, 13) in his description of the splendid garments of the Israelite woman. The commentators identify this meshi with silk, and there may be an etymological connection… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Silk — (engl. Wort für Seide) ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Anna Silk (* 1977), kanadische Schauspielerin Dave Silk (* 1958), US amerikanischer Eishockeyspieler David Silk (* 1936), anglikanischer Bischof Garnett Silk (1966–1994),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • silk — (n.) O.E. sioloc, seoloc silk, ultimately from an Asian word (Cf. Chinese si silk, Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek) borrowed into Gk. as serikos silken, serikon silk (Cf. Gk. Seres, a name for an oriental people from whom the Greeks got silk) …   Etymology dictionary

  • silk´en|ly — silk|en «SIHL kuhn», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. a) made of silk: »a silken dress. The king wore silken robes. b) of or having to do with silk stuffs or goods. 2. like silk; soft, smooth, and glossy: »She has silken hair. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • silk|en — «SIHL kuhn», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. a) made of silk: »a silken dress. The king wore silken robes. b) of or having to do with silk stuffs or goods. 2. like silk; soft, smooth, and glossy: »She has silken hair. 3. a) …   Useful english dictionary

  • silk — [ sılk ] noun ** 1. ) uncount thin smooth cloth made from the fibers produced by an insect called a silkworm: an elegant shirt made of pure Chinese silk a ) only before noun made of silk: an expensive Italian silk suit b ) uncount the THREAD used …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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