The Silk Road.

The article discusses the history of the silk trade and the Silk Road, as Asian trade route, particularly focusing on demand for Chinese silks in the Ancient Roman Empire. The author also reflects on Romans' conceptions of silk's location of origin and comments on Han Emperor Wu's attempt to form an alliance with the Scyths against the Huns. Other topics discussed by the author include uses for silk, the rising price of silk, and the impact of the rise of Syria as a center for silk manufacturing on the Silk Road's use in the sixth century.