33 ɂɧɢɰɢʁɚɥ. ɑɚɫɨɩɢɫ ɡɚ ɫɪɟɞʃɨɜɟɤɨɜɧɟ ɫɬɭɞɢʁɟ 4 (2016) 33–41 Initial. A Review of Medieval Studies 4 (2016) 33–41 UDC: 338.3:[637.62(410.1)+677.37(495.02)“03/14“ Alexandra Karagianni Aristotle University of Thessaloniki University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece alkaragi@auth.gr ENGLISH WOOL AND BYZANTINE SILK IN THE MIDDLE AGES: ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS Abstract: The paper aims to explore the different environmental condi- tions that favored the development of wool and silk trade in England and Byzan- tium, respectively, and to study the economic, political, religious and cultural di- mensions of it. Wool was the most important source of wealth in medieval Eng- land and the principal means of financing the Hundred Years’ War between Eng- land and France. Wool manufacturing had a great impact on the society and pro- vided an important foundation for medieval urbanization. Byzantium, on the other hand, established a monopolistic imperial silk weaving industry from the fourth century onwards. The Byzantines demonstrated their technological superiority in silk art crafts and impressed the West that assimilated it and tried to imitate it. Keywords: England, Byzantium, wool, silk, economy, Middle Ages. English wool and Byzantine silk are two heterogeneous textile prod- ucts that during the Middle Ages contributed significantly to the economic and social development of both England and Byzantium. Farm production and the several stages of manufacture and distribution of these products also led to medieval urbanization. Generally, these two different textile products resulted in political, religious and cultural growth of these re- gions mainly due to the flourishing trade to European, West Asian and North African markets. Wool, part of British history and heritage, was the most important source of wealth in medieval England. The English barons described wool tОбtilОs as “tСО priЧcipal ПouЧНatioЧ upoЧ аСicС tСО ПorОiРЧ coЦЦОrcО oП tСО EЧРlisС kiЧРНoЦ ЦovОtС”. TСО OrНiЧaЧcО oП tСО Staple called wool “tСО sovОrОiРЧ ЦОrcСaЧНisО” aЧН “tСО jОаОl oП tСО rОalЦ oП EЧРlaЧН” wherОas a VОЧОtiaЧ aЦbassaНor iЧ ЦОНiОval EЧРlaЧН НОПiЧОН аool as “tСО