Silk production centers in Iraq

While silk production is recorded from the 3^rd century CE, it was from the early 700s CE that the Caliphs and Walis invested in and developed Iraq’s industries, especially silk-making. The silk industry came to be almost state-owned to be protected from tyrannical aggression. When silk became the cloth of officials under the caliph, Sulayman bin Abd al-Malik (715-171 CE), this increased demand and production. Among silk-producing cities, Mosul became an important caravan and trading station, renowned for the quality of its colourful silks. Meanwhile, the city of Wasit also became famous for its colouring techniques, with its silks decorating the palace of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Moqtader Billah. Gradually different Iraqi cities became known for different silk-production techniques and products, mixing silk with other products like cotton, wool and precious metals. By the 17^th and 18^th centuries, Iraqi inspired silks were being worn by a number of famous people including Queen Elizabeth 1 and the diarist, Samuel Pepys.