The East had a monopoly on this material until the 6th century, when 2 monks smuggled out some worms
In the 20th century Japan and China regained their earlier role in silk... [DOC] [TLE] Byzantine silk - Wikipedia [PAR] Byzantine silk is silk woven in the Byzantine Empire (Byzantium) from about the 
fourth century until the Fall ... Later, silkworms were smuggled into the Empire 
and the overland silk trade gradually became less important.