The Byzantines were as secretive as the Chinese, however, and for many centuries the weaving and trading of silk fabric was a strict imperial monopoly.
然而，拜占庭人和中国人一样神秘，在许多世纪里，丝绸织物的编织和贸易是严格的帝国垄断。
2
The secret of silk production reached the West only in the sixth century, from the Byzantines.
直至六世纪，经由拜占庭，西方人才了解丝绸生产的秘密。
3
Romans, Byzantines, Assyrians, Arabs, Mongols and Ottomans – they have all passed through here and left their marks on the town.