WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -What is silk? Silk is a thin, but strong fiber that silkworms produce when they are making their cocoons. It can be woven into a very soft and smooth fabric. Silk fabric was invented in Ancient China and played an important role in their culture and economy for thousands of years.

Detailed explanation-2: -Eri silk, along with mulberry silk, is the only fully domesticated silk worm. The name “eri” is derived from the Assamese word “era", which means “castor", as the silkworm feeds on castor plants. Also called ahimsa, endi or errandi in India.

Detailed explanation-3: -The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori Linaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) was successfully domesticated to produce the raw silk used for weaving by Chinese farmers about 5, 200 years ago (Chou 1980; Goldsmith et al. 2004).

Detailed explanation-4: -What is China Silk? The cocoons of silkworms are used to produce the luxurious fabric known as China silk. The cultivation of silkworms and the weaving of silk have long been traditions practiced by the Chinese people.

Detailed explanation-5: -Silk was a status symbol in ancient China. Silk was used to weave ceremonial garments and gifts to foreign dignitaries. Silk was so valued in ancient China that anyone found smuggling silkworm eggs, cocoons, or mulberry seeds was put to death.