Silk, discovered around 2700 BCE in China, has a rich history marked by its spread through the Silk Road, which connected China to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This luxurious fabric, initially a closely guarded Chinese secret, reached India, Korea, and Japan by 300 CE, and later the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century, thanks to smuggled silkworm eggs. By the 13th century, Italy emerged as a major silk producer, with its cities becoming renowned for high-quality silk. The Industrial Revolution mechanized silk production, spreading it to the Americas and Europe. Despite the advent of synthetic fibers in the 20th century, silk remains a symbol of luxury and cultural significance worldwide.
