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The Lawfare Podcast

Chatter: Fabric, Dyes, Glamour, and International Affairs, with Virginia Postrel

Apr 18, 2024
Author and speaker Virginia Postrel discusses the history and impact of fabric-making, dyes, and textile trade. Topics include the value of purple in the Roman Empire, China's silk espionage, Spain's red dye monopoly, modern sneaker culture, and glamour in politics and fashion.
01:30:47

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Quick takeaways

  • Silk-making in ancient China involved intricate processes and espionage due to its guarded secrets.
  • The Spanish monopolized Cochineal dye, a prized commodity, by keeping its origin from Mexico hidden.

Deep dives

The Intricacies of Silk Production in China

Silk production in ancient China involved raising silkworms in specific conditions, feeding them mulberry leaves, and collecting their cocoons. The silk was then extracted by unspooling a single mile-long filament. Chinese empires closely guarded the silk-making process, leading to espionage attempts to acquire these secrets. The silk-making process eventually spread to other regions like Japan and Korea.

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