The Discovery of Chinese Silk and the Silk Road

It is well known that silk is discovered in China as one of the best materials for clothing—it has a look and feels of richness that no other materials can match. However, very few people know when or where or how it is discovered. Actually, it could date back to the 30th Century BC when Huang Di (Yellow Emperor) came into power. There are many legends about the discovery of silk; some of them are both romantic and mysterious. The Legend Legend has it that once there lived a father with his daughter, they had a magic horse, which could not only fly in the sky but also understand human language. One day, the father went out on business and did not come back for quite some time. The daughter made him a promise: If the horse could find her father, she would marry him. Finally, her father came back with the horse, but he was shocked at his daughters promise. Unwilling to let his daughter marry a horse, he killed the innocent horse. And then a miracle happened! The horses skin carried the girl flying away. They flew and flew, at last, they stopped on a tree, and the moment the girl touched the tree, she turned into a silkworm. Every day, she spits long and thin silks. The silks just represented her feeling of missing him. Finding Silk by Chance Another less romantic but more convincing explanation is that some ancient Chinese women found this wonderful silk by chance. When they were picking up fruits from the trees, they found a special kind of fruit, white but too hard to eat, so they boiled the fruit in hot water but they still could hardly eat it. At last, they lost their patience and began to beat them with big sticks. In this way, silks and silkworms were discovered. And the white hard fruit is a cocoon! The business of raising silkworms and unwinding cocoons is now known as silk culture or sericulture. It takes an average of 25-28 days for a silkworm, which is no bigger than an ant, to grow old enough to spin a cocoon. Then the women farmers will pick them up one by one to piles of straws, then the silkworm will attach itself to the straw, with its legs to the outside and begin to spin. The next step is unwinding the cocoons; it is done by reeling girls. The cocoons are heated to kill the pupae, this must be done at the right time, otherwise, the pupas are bound to turn into moths, and moths will make a hole in the cocoons, which will be useless for reeling. To unwind the cocoons, first put them in a basin filled with hot water, find the loose end of the cocoon, and then twist them, carry them to a small wheel, thus the cocoons will be unwound. At last, two workers measure them into a certain length, twist them, they are called raw silk, then they are dyed and woven into cloth. An Interesting Fact An interesting fact is that we can unwind about 1,000 meters long silk from one cocoon, while 111 cocoons are needed for a mans tie, and 630 cocoons are needed for a womans blouse. Chinese people developed new way by using silk to make clothes since the discovery of silk. This kind of clothes became popular soon. At that time, Chinas technology was developing fast. Emperor Wu Di of western Han Dynasty decided to develop trade with other countries. To build a road becomes a priority to trade silk. For nearly 60 years of war, the world famous ancient Silk Road was built up at cost of many losses of life and treasures. It started from Changan (now Xian), across Middle Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. Many countries of Asia and Europe were connected. Chinese Silk: a Global Love From then on, Chinese silk, along with many other Chinese inventions, were passed to Europe. Romans, especially women, were crazy for Chinese silk. Before that, Romans used to make clothes with a linen cloth, animal skin, and wool fabric. Now they all turned to silk. It was a symbol of wealth and high social status for them to wear silk clothes. One day, an Indian monk came to visit the Emperor. This monk had been living in China for several years and knew the method of raising silkworms. The Emperor promised a high profit of the monk, the monk hid several cocoons in his cane and took it to Rome. Then, the technology of raising silkworms spread out. Thousands of years have passed since China first discovered silkworms. Nowadays, silk, in some sense, is still some kind of luxury. Some countries are trying some new ways to make silk without silkworms. Hopefully, they can be successful. But whatever the result, nobody should forget that silk was, still is, and will always be a priceless treasure.

Hist-1302 Essay - 1269 Words

Primary Source Analysis Paper 1. In the pictorial, Miss Colombia’s School House (1894), my initial impression is that this picture serves as the basis for the term â€Å"the great melting pot†. The pictorial shows the exclusion of Hawaii and Canada from the United States at that time but the desire to include them. The views of the South are expressed with the presence of the African American child being accosted with a weapon. The picture further depicts an Anglo child assaulting an Asian child. In the back of the pictorial one of the attendees is protesting his view of socialism by carrying a red flag with the work socialism publicized on the flag. This pictorial gives a quick look in to history regarding America’s relations with†¦show more content†¦He believed that the natives survived successfully under the Spanish rule. 2. In the speech given by President Eisenhower about Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 it â€Å"demonstrates we are a nation in which laws, not men are supreme†. Eisenhower was reluctant to use his presidential authority to enforce the Court’s verdict regarding desegregation, but he sent federal troops to deescalate the situation. He stated if the state and local agencies proved they could not carryout a task or order the Executive Branch of the Federal government must use its power to uphold the law. The Civil Rights Movement helped guarantee rights for women, person with disabilities, equal protection of the law and giving all males the right to vote. I believe the president compared the civil movement to the cold war as it was force in making changes. The Alcatraz Proclamation and â€Å"The Soiling of Old Glory† photograph reflects on the radicalization with the Anglo American communities due to the fight. They reclaimed Alcatraz from the Native American after it was given to them in 1868 by The Treaty of fort Laramie. Also, he would have let the Native Americans keep the Alcatraz Island simply because of the Treaty of Fort Laramie due to it was approved by the Courts. The Racial Imbalance Act was passed in 1965 to assert the desegregation schools. Failure to comply meant that schools risk losing state funding. This event caused an innocent black pedestrian walking to Boston City Hall to beShow MoreRelatedEssay about HIST 1302 FINAL EXAM REVIEW1343 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Final Test Review 2013 Fall 1. All of the following factors promoted the growth of suburbs a. Low cost government loans. b. Expanded road and highway construction. c. Increased automobile production. d. The baby boom. 2. The mood of the â€Å"Beat Generation’ is best reflected in which Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. 3. The decade of the 1950’s was characterized by women doing what? 4. All of the following were reasons why a consumer culture appeared in the 1950’s a. The creation of credit cardsRead MoreAlexis Ranieri. Hist 1302:04. May 5, 2017. Final Exam.878 Words   |  4 PagesAlexis Ranieri HIST 1302:04 May 5, 2017 Final Exam Question II Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States of America and served as President from 1829 until 1837. His Inauguration was March 4, 1829. Some of Jackson’s major goals as President were as follows: purge government corruption and privilege, Indian removal, affirm national sovereignty, pay off national debt, kill the B.U.S., and hard currency. These goals were known under the Jacksonian Program. To solve the â€Å"IndianRead MoreEarly College High School College1300 Words   |  6 Pagescredit for the following courses through Interactive Television Broadcast or Online: †¢ ENGL 1301 – Composition I (English III) ENGL 1302 – Composition II (English III) †¢ ENGL 2322 – British Literature to 1800 (English IV) ENGL 2323 – British Literature since 1800 (English IV) ENGL 2327 – American Literature to 1865 †¢ HIST 1301 – US to 1877 (U.S. History) †¢ HIST 1302 – US since 1877 (U.S. History) Music 2310 – Jazz, Pop, and Rock †¢ PSYC 1301 – Intro to Psychology SOC 1301 – Intro to Sociology ARTRead MoreAnalysis Of The Last Days Of Innocence938 Words   |  4 PagesSandy Tom HIST 1302 – XS1 Read-Write #1 – Meirion and Susie Harries â€Å"Do You Want To Live Forever† The Last Days of Innocence talks about the involvement of America in World War 1, when more than five million servicemen took part, and nearly a quarter were wounded or dead. The author documents the alliance among the American, French, and British who plays a significant role in defeating Germany and other Axis nations. Specifically in chapter 23, â€Å"Do You Want To Live Forever†, ...............Read MoreJack Johnson : The First Black Heavy Weight Champion1071 Words   |  5 Pages Cierra Moreno Hist-1302-044 Alvarez 9:00 Jack Johnson The word racism was and continues to be a common word used to distinguish the inferior from the superior, furthermore the blacks from the whites. African Americans were denied several rights including eating and sitting in the same section as a white man or women. They were murdered and tortured for naà ¯ve actions, even children were harmed during this time. In order for one to understand such undignified actions, one must also understand thatRead MoreTruman s Greatest Moral Dilemma1126 Words   |  5 PagesRachel Green HIST-1302 Spring 2015 Truman’s Greatest Moral Dilemma President Harry S. Truman had a major ethical and moral dilemma in choosing whether or not to use the atomic bomb as a resolution to the war. This came with many advantages and disadvantages. We must consider several facts. President Truman was almost thrown upon the presidential role upon Roosevelt’s death. He was a reliable party man who was well liked by professional politicians. His inexperience and desire to please the AmericanRead MoreEssay On Gilded Age1218 Words   |  5 PagesMinh Le Prof. Katherine Gaskamp HIST 1302 November 01, 2017 Mid Term Exam SHORT ANSWER TOPIC: 1. Gilded Age In the last few decades of the nineteenth century, America stepped into innovation. The economic growth dramatically, new products, transportation systems and technologies improved. The wealth is highlighted by the American upper class such as Andre Carnegie, William A. Clark, John Jacob Astor, and many more. This might know as the â€Å"Golden Age†, however, most Americans called it the â€Å"GildedRead MoreAnalysis of Prompt and Utter Destruction Essay1371 Words   |  6 PagesPrompt and Utter Destruction: An Analytic Review Rebecca Torres Hist 1302/713 04/14/2012 Prof. Stromberg Prompt and Utter Destruction: An analytical review Was the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the American Government unavoidably necessary? This is what Samuel J. Walker intends to uncover in his publication. His argument is that the justifications made by the AmericanRead MoreComparing Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan1515 Words   |  7 PagesComparing Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan Desai Abdul-Razzaaq HIST 1302 – American History II Mr. Daniel Bush Central Texas College January 4, 2010 The films Saving Private Ryan and Apocalypse Now were both critically acclaimed films depicting the dramas of war. They both had very realistic qualities and great cinematic values. The films had two great Hollywood directors in, Steven SpielbergRead MoreDear Americ Book Review1556 Words   |  7 PagesKersasp Cawasji Hist 1302- 5021 Professor Blake Ellis Aug 10, 2014 Dear America – Book Review ‘Dear America’ is a rather sober look at the war fought in Vietnam from the point of view of the soldiers fighting in it. The book is a collection of 200 letters penned by the soldiers and their families during the war. It is through the simplicity of the writers’ language and the honesty in their words that makes Dear America a history book and not a war novel. Through these readings, the myths of the

Sub-Cultures within the Latino Culture in America Free Essays

There are many different cultures and people from different ethnic backgrounds throughout all of the United States. We have many different people that migrated here from all types of countries and from all of the continents. The main culture I will be talking about today in my interviews is the Mexican culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Sub-Cultures within the Latino Culture in America or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Latino culture contains many sub cultures including many South American countries and Central America. This will be an in depth interview of Mexican culture, but it is only a small fraction compared to the amount of different cultures we have in our country today. The first person that I interviewed was my girlfriend, Amarise Christine Morales. Amarise was born in Tulare, Ca, but has lived in Fresno, Ca most of her life. Her family originated from Guadalajara, Mx. She says her family has many traditions for different types of events or purposes. For example, every New Years her abuela will cook a big 5 gallon pot of menudo. Every Christmas Eve her family will get together and make tamales for the holidays. â€Å"It’s a very fun time with the family and we all stay up late eating and opening presents† said Amarise. On Christmas Eve it’s a tradition for them to go to Midnight Mass and afterwards they open up their gifts. â€Å"One thing that’s easy to notice about my family, we all speak Spanish† said Amarise. â€Å"If you’re around my family and you want to speak to my grandparents, you must speak to them in Spanish. If you do not, its kind of like insulting to them. † Church is also a major tradition in Mexican Culture. Amarise was baptized when she an infant. She made her communion when she was in the fourth, her family was very proud. She then continued to make her confirmation in her early teenage years. This made her grandparents even more proud of her and showed her obedience to Jesus El Padre. When Amarise turned 15 years old she had a quinceyera. She says it was her favorite birthday out of them all. She had a huge party at a hall with her friends and cousins in the quince. They were all dressed so nice and formal, and Amarise had a beautiful turquoise dress that her Abuelita had bought for her. Over 150 people attended and she had received many gifts and lots of money. One thing that she kept saying was that there are no better fiestas than a Mexican fiesta. She describes her family get togethers with lots of food and appetizers like chips and salsa, guacamole, and drinks like horchata. They love barbequing for the days when their favorite soccer team, Chivas, play on tv. During Christmas time a week before the 25th, her family will take a trip to Mexico to visit her great grandpa. Usually the family will come back after Christmas, but her Abuela will stay until February. Her great grandpa passed away about 6 months ago at the age of 95. He was a great man that owned his own dairy in Mexico, he left his dairy and all his belongings to all of his kids. Amarise’s Abuela ended up receiving all of the livestock and she sold them to another dairy in Mexico for well over $200,000. I asked Amarise about any folk tales or scary stories she used to hear as a kid and she told me about three main ones. First was the Chupacabra, which is a made up legend about a weird animal that is mixed species and it kills livestock and sucks their blood dry. I’ve also heard of this story when I was child so it wasn’t knew hearing it. Another story was about the llorona, which meant the lady that cries. She was a lady that drowned her children in a river, and whenever Amarise went camping she said her older cousin would always tease her and scare her about it. The last urban legend was the Cocui, which was the Mexican Boogey Man that lived under your closet and bed. All of these are Mexican stories and folktale that many familes pass on. The second person I interviewed was Amarise’s grandmother, Maria Guadalupe Carpio Morales. I had to have Amarise translate our questions and answers because my Spanish isn’t fluent enough. Maria Morales was born in Guadalajara Mexico on May 25th 1945. Her mother Sophia and father Carlos Carpio lived on a 50 acre ranch in Guadalajara, Mexico. They owned their own dairy farm and sold many goods such as livestock, dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter. Maria’s mother Sophia died when she was a young child at the age of 10 years old. It was devastating but their family of eight kept strong and continued to survive. When Maria was 14 her family decided for them to have a better life then they should come to America. He wanted his children and their children to have more opportunities than he did. So their brothers and sisters ended up getting heir legal papers in Mexico, and then drove across the boarder for a long trip to Stockton, California. Her father stayed in Guadalajara to manage the family business with her oldest sister Sophia, named after her mother. That summer Maria and her brothers and sisters started working in the fields in Stockton. Maria’s job was packing fruit like apricots, peaches, strawberries and all other types of fruits and vegetables. She also did a lot of the harvesting at Beacon’s Island. To Maria, Mexican culture revolves all around your family, morals, and traditions and religion. You have to be proud of where you come from, Mexican culture is about being proud of who you are† said Maria. â€Å"My Father taught all of my brothers and sisters to look out for one another because with out family you have nothing. † Ever since Maria born her family has been very religious. She was baptized in a church is Guadalajara, but she does not recall the name of it. She has been a practicing Catholic woman since all she can remember. Every Saturday even until this very day she atten ds mass at 6:45pm to 7:30pm. She refers to Jesus as Mi Padre Jesus. There are many traditions that Maria has in her life and that she has taught to her family. When a person dies she prays the Rosery prayer to the Virgin Mary for nights in a row to essentially pray that persons soul into heaven. She also practices lint, which is 40 days before Easter Sunday when Jesus walked 40 days and 40 nights without eating anything. So on Ash Wednesday she gives up something that’s valuable to her, but she did not tell us what that was. She said its not good to flaunt what you given up because its disrespectful to who your doing it for, Jesus. During Lent Season to avoid eating meat on Fridays Maria will cook either fish, like ceviche or shrimp to substitute for the meat. She loves making shrimp cocktail as well as her kids and grandkids. The only time she ever worked was in the fields. Later on in life she moved to Los Angeles with her sisters. It was there where she met Elano Morales, her husband until this day. She stopped working once they became married to raise a family and take care of her three children. One of those children was Carlos Morales, the first generation to be born here in the United States. He is the father of Amarise who I earlier had interviewed. Maria now lives in Tulare, CA with her husband and some relatives. She continues to pass on the traditions and morals that were passed onto her and only hopes that her grandchildren will continue to her families story. I learned many new things about Mexican culture when interviewing my girlfriend and her grandmother. But I also realized that I wasn’t much different from them. A lot of these things I have already heard of or learned about. For example, all the folklore and scary stories were stories my grandparents told me. Another thing that is similar is that my grandparents also worked in the fields when they were young. This shows me that everyone’s connected in a way and we know more about one another than we thought. Even though we all come from many different backgrounds, there are many similarities. I believe that this assignment made me a better person and less judgmental of people that do not know how to speak English, regardless of their race. This project really opened me up to new ideas and showed me a different side to the word culture and what it means to Latinos and Latinas. How to cite Sub-Cultures within the Latino Culture in America, Papers