why did romans love silk?

Ben Price

The Romans adored silk and because it was an expensive luxury, it only adorned the wealthiest of citizens. The desire for silk lead to the opening of the Silk Road, a trade route with China, in 130 BCE during the Han Dynasty. Other commodities were also traded through the Silk Road, including spices and paper, but silk was the most sought after. However, it was associated with immoral behaviour and was considered a drain on the Roman economy, so laws were passed in Rome in an attempt to regulate the trade and use of silk.