Worm Genocide

Have you ever wondered how your clothes are made? Did know that silk was made by a worm? Silk worms are native to China. The Chinese found that the silk worm cocoons, when emerged in hot liquid, produced a strong silk thread when it untangled. It takes 2,500 silk worms to make a pound of silk.

Watch this video to see how silk is produced.

Clothing made from silk is highly breathable, light weight and great for hot or cold temperatures. It is thought to be one of the strongest natural materials. Silk can help your hair be healthier and shinier and cause less tangles and frizz because of the natural oils. It was used for fishing lines, bow strings, and canvas for paintings. The Chinese monopolized silk making so they could produce more profit with trading and selling. They began to trade with other nations.

Camels were used to transport silk to other nations. The route they took began to be called the Silk Road. Trade began approximately in 130 BC when China began trading with the west. The Silk Road was an important part of trade, culture, and ideas that ended in approximately 1453 AD. It stretched roughly 4,000 miles starting around the Yellow Sea and ending around the Mediterranean Sea and Bay of Bengal.