Glossary · Term

Silk

Silk is a fine, strong fabric made from the cocoons of silkworms, first produced in China. It was one of the most valuable goods of long-distance trade across Eurasia, giving its name to the Silk Road. It was central to the economies of the Han, Tang, Song and Ming dynasties and to the Parthian, Sasanian, Gokturk, Mongol, Chagatai and Safavid empires, which traded or taxed it.

Mentioned in 67 profiles

Byzantine EmpireSocioeconomyChagatai EmpireFoundation, Socioeconomy, Impact, Decline, SummaryEmpire of JapanSocioeconomyGokturk EmpireFoundation, Socioeconomy, ImpactHan DynastySocioeconomy, ImpactIlkhanateSocioeconomy, ImpactKhwarazmian EmpireSocioeconomy, ImpactMing EmpireImpactMongol EmpireSocioeconomyParthian EmpireSocioeconomy, ImpactQing EmpireSocioeconomy, ImpactRoman EmpireSocioeconomySafavid EmpireSocioeconomySasanian EmpireSocioeconomySeljuk EmpireSocioeconomy, ImpactSong DynastyFoundation, Socioeconomy, ImpactSrivijaya EmpireSocioeconomy, ImpactTang DynastySocioeconomy, ImpactTimurid EmpireSocioeconomyXiongnu EmpireFoundation, Socioeconomy, ImpactZand EmpireSocioeconomyNew SpainSocioeconomy, SummaryViceroyalty of PeruImpactShang dynastySocioeconomyState of QiSocioeconomyState of ChuSocioeconomy, Impact, SummarySakaSocioeconomyYuezhiImpactBaekjeSocioeconomyKushan EmpireImpact, SummaryEastern JinSocioeconomyRouran KhaganateSocioeconomyTibetan EmpireSocioeconomy, SummaryBalhaeSocioeconomyLiao dynastySocioeconomy, SummaryJin dynasty (1115-1234)SocioeconomyRyukyu KingdomSocioeconomyRepublic of VeniceSocioeconomyPapal StatesSocioeconomyCaliphate of CórdobaSocioeconomyRepublic of GenoaSocioeconomyKingdom of SicilySocioeconomyCrown of AragonSocioeconomy, ImpactPrincipality of AchaeaSocioeconomyCanton of ZürichSocioeconomy, ImpactEmirate of GranadaSocioeconomy, Impact, SummaryGrand Duchy of MoscowSocioeconomyKingdom of NaplesSocioeconomyOld Swiss ConfederacySocioeconomyKingdom of SardiniaSocioeconomyDuchy of MilanSocioeconomyDuchy of SavoySocioeconomyGrand Duchy of TuscanySocioeconomyKingdom of PrussiaSocioeconomySwiss ConfederationSocioeconomyShirvanshah StateSocioeconomy, ImpactEmpire of TrebizondSocioeconomyAq QoyunluSocioeconomyQajar IranSocioeconomyLater Pandyan EmpireSocioeconomyLan NaSocioeconomyBengal SultanateSocioeconomy, SummaryBrunei SultanateSocioeconomyKingdom of Mysore (1399-1799)ImpactLater Le dynastySocioeconomyAceh SultanateSocioeconomyKonbaung dynastySocioeconomy

Mentioned in 76 state histories

State of QiState of ChuKosKingdom of ShuleSouthern XiongnuZhongjiaKamarupaAulikara dynastyGaochang KingdomEastern Turkic KhaganateUyghur KhaganateShirvanshah Stateand 64 more

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Silk. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/silk
MLA
“Silk.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/silk. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Silk.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/silk.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Silk’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/silk (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻