As we all know the first emperor of Rome successfully rebuilt the Empire after many years of civil war. At the turn of the millennium, he ordered a secret expedition to Han China in order to steal the knowledge of silk production. At the time Silk and other exotic good from Asia meant the empire was seeing 100 million sesterces leave it a year, with silk being one of the biggest offenders.
Augustus's men impersonating as monks and scholars made their way to China, and after spending 3 years gaining everyone's trust, they managed to learn the art of silk production and managed to steal and bring to Rome silkworms and mullberry trees they ate. This turned out to be a great boon for the Roman Emperors when silk production took off, it raked in over 50 million sesterces a year to the treasury.
So WI Augustus didn't order the theft, how would Rome have developed?
Augustus's men impersonating as monks and scholars made their way to China, and after spending 3 years gaining everyone's trust, they managed to learn the art of silk production and managed to steal and bring to Rome silkworms and mullberry trees they ate. This turned out to be a great boon for the Roman Emperors when silk production took off, it raked in over 50 million sesterces a year to the treasury.
So WI Augustus didn't order the theft, how would Rome have developed?