<\/noscript><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe history of silk changed gradually with the spread of sericulture across the medieval world, altered by a sudden plague, then changed again due to the industrial revolution. Despite its ancient origins, the use of silk has not really changed over time, from the earliest discovery it was known to be the garments of kings and nobles, regardless of the expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
silk in the medieval West<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Primarily as a result of the crusades, the Western European kingdoms came into more direct contact with their Byzantine and Arab rivals. This exchange gave them many things, one being the spread of sericulture, particularly to Italy and Southern France. These locations became important sources and manufactories for European silk and endured up until the first World War. These quickly increased the supply of the textile, which had been one of the rarest of luxuries in the known world. This served to open the marked to a wider range of the nobility and wealthy classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSilk became so popular that, like we'll see in the East, sumptuary laws were passed in many nations restricting the kinds and ranks of people who could wear silk. Depending on the country, silk was either seen as too effeminate or too rich for all but the highest of noblemen. For women it was generally allowed so long as one could afford it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As technology advanced Western silks could come closer and closer to the Eastern competition, but the standards were tough and the demand for finer and finer weaves simply continued to grow. The Black Death, and a severe silkworm plague almost wiped out European silk for good, but with the return of wealth in the renaissance silk production quickly returned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n