26. The luxurious fabric known as damask is named after the capital of what present-day country in the Middle East?
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Answer:
Syria
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus, the capital of Syria, was for a long time a hub for the manufacture and trade of many different goods. This resulted in its name being used to denote various highly prized items, such as a richly-figured, woven fabric with a reversible pattern, which is believed to have originated in China in the early Middle Ages. Though damask was not produced primarily in Damascus, in the 12th century the Syrian capital - located on the Silk Road - was the main centre of trade where people from Western Europe were able to purchase the fabric.
The name damask also denotes a muted, dusty rose colour, and an ancient, strongly scented rose hybrid. The name of the damson, a dark blue, oval variety of plum, is derived from the adjective "damascene". Steel blades ornamented with wavy patterns were called Damascus steel, though it is not clear whether the name stems from the resemblance of the patterns to damask fabric, or because the blades were actually made or sold in Damascus.
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