Andros Silkworm Trade

Andros Silkworm Trade: The silkworm trade constituted up until the 19th century the base of the economy of Andros. It originally started in the 4th century, during the reign of Constantine, the first Byzantine Emperor. This trade gave prosperity to the area and most of the island’s inhabitants were exclusively dealing with this activity.

In fact, they used the top floors of their houses to cultivate the silkworms and produce quality silk materials. These materials were later exported abroad or sent to the capital of Greece. The raw materials were usually taken to the neighbouring islands of Tinos and Kea in order to be elaborated.

This activity continued, despite the Venetian and Turkish invasions that followed, until an illness in the mid 19th century decimated the silkworm and stroke a heavy blow to the economy of Andros.