Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/178

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JIISTOHY OK INlJlA.

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Modera India -Clianges in the mode of intercourse with the East — M'^napolies c^itahlLiihed by the Venetians, tho Genoese, and other ItaUan republics- Doubling of the Cape of Good Hope — Portuguese progress in India.

C.R.

A.D. MO.

Indian traile under Justinian.

Silk-worm-i first

brought to Europe.

Changes in the route of Indian

traflRc.

N the time of the Roman emperor Ju.stiiiian, wJien the Pei-sians, by establishing a monopoly of the Indian trade along the route which led most directly to Constantinople, had raised the price of silk eiKjr- mously in that luxurious capital, the opportune arrival of two Persian Wi monks dissipated the alami which had begun to prevail, by showing how an adequate supply might be obtained at home. In the course of their labours as Christian missionaries, they had penetrated into China, and become acquainted with the whole process of the sUk manufacture, from its commence- ment in the rearing of silk- worms, to its termination in the finished product. Their information attracted general attention ; and the emperor, fully alive to its importance, determined immediately to act upon it. With this view the monks, under his auspices, paid a second visit to Cliina, ami returned with a supply of the eggs of the silk -worm, concealed in the hollow of a cane. The worms hatched from these eggs being carefully reared, multiplied so rapidly that in a short time Greece, Sicily, and Italy were both producing raw silk, and manufacturing it on an extensive scale. One branch of the Indian trade was thus ill some degree superseded, but the others which remained were still suffi- cient to create a large demand, and excite to strenuous exertions for the purpose of supplying it. In this way the ancient channels of intercourse were again partially opened, and Indian products were beginning to flow into Europe by the inland and maritime routes which have been already described, when new obstacles of a very formidable character were suddenly interposed.

The Mahometan imposture, after spreading like wild-fii-e over the whole of Arabia, continued its conquests in all directions, and soon placed both Pema and Egypt under the absolute control of its fanatical adherents. The fierce ani- mosities thus engendered, left no room for friendly intercourse between those who regarded Mahomet as a prophet, and those who knew him to be an impos- tor. Exterminating warfare alone was thought of, and continued to rage with the utmost fury. In these circumstances, as the demand for Eastern products, originally confined to the more wealthy, had become generally diffused among all classes, the only alternative was to endeavour to obtain them by a channel which lay so far to the north as to run little risk of being interfered with by Mahome- tan fanaticism. Mention was formerly made of the commercial route, which after