Byzantine Constantinople sat at the junction of Mediterranean sea lanes and overland routes from Central Asia, making it the principal western hub for Silk Road commerce. In the mid-sixth century, the Byzantine government sought to establish an independent silk industry, and by most historical accounts silkworm eggs and sericulture knowledge reached the empire around this time, reducing reliance on Sasanian Persian intermediaries. The city's customs administration taxed goods moving between Asia, Africa, and Europe, generating major state revenue. Constantinople remained a dominant commercial and financial center in the Mediterranean world for centuries afterward.
Relevance to Trade History
Constantinople's command of trade routes and acquisition of silk-production knowledge shows how medieval states combined geographic position with technology transfer to control luxury trade.
Read the full story in our article Indian Ocean Trade Networks.
Source: World History Encyclopedia. See our Sources & Methodology page for how we select and verify references.