Western Civilization I / Unit 7 WC1 0615 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Silk, Pepper, Monsoons, and the Drain of Gold
Captions available
The idea
Only China made silk, and it reached Rome through Persia or, from Augustus's time, by monsoon voyages to India at the anchor's hundredfold profit. Silk and pepper drained gold from Rome for centuries. China was known, never formally reached.
In practice
The Silk Road's western end in Roman markets.
Where people slip
The gold drain is the anchor's economic point. Luxury imports were paid in metal.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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