Trade Concession: Silk

Crassus, although his fortunes had been built up following the Civil Wars of Sulla and Marius through the proscriptions that followed, diversified his wealth into the trade of silver, slaves, and silk, the latter especially in the east. This was further secured by his appointment in 55BC as the Proconsul of Syria. As governor, he gained greater influence over the profitable Silk Road that had begun under the Han Dynasty of China.