What colors were rarest during different eras, and why?

Question

FOR A PROJECT DUE TOMMOROW HELP.

Answer 1

Purple was only allowed to be worn by royalty.

Answer 2

This is a bit late to be asking;-{ do research on the internet.
Purple was a rare colour in Roman times, reserved for royalty.
Saffron was another rare colour in the orient, for priests only.
The secret was in the source of the dyes.
Purple came from the cochineal insect.
Saffron from the stamens of certain tulips.
The people who had the secret could charge a high price.

Answer 3

Purple was rare during the first century because only very small amounts could be produced (they got the dye from special shells.) That's why only nobility wore it; they were the only ones that could afford it.

Answer 4

Bright colors were not exceptable at wakes and funerals like they are today.. It use to be everyone would wear dark colors in repect to the person being morned and they're families.

Answer 5

This site may help.

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/category/articles

Answer 6

OBSOLETE COLOUR NAMES
(Prior to AD-1800)
ABRAHAM or ABRAM. 16th century = Brown.
BOWDY. 17th century = Scarlet. From the dye house established at Bow for
Dyeing by a new method.
BRASSEL. 16th century = a Red colour that was obtained from wood of and
East Indian tree.
BRISTOL. 16th century, = Red.
CARNATION. 16th century. = A Flesh colour that was obtained from Saffron.
CROCUS. 17th century. = A Yellow dye obtained from Saffron.
FALWE. Medieval = Yellow.
GOOSE-TURD. 16th century. = A Reddish-Brown.
HAIR. 16th century. = A Bright-Tan
INCARNATE. 16th century. = Red.
INDE. Medieval. = Azure-Blue.
ISABELLE. 16th century. = A Yellow or Light-Buff.
LUSTIE-GALLANT. 16th century. = Light Red.
MAIDENHAIR. 16th century. = Bright Tan.
MARBLE. 16th century. = Parti-coloured.
MEDLEY. 16th century. = A mixture of colours.
MILK-and-WATER. 16th century. = Bluish-White.
MURRY. 16th century = Purplish-Red.
ORANGE. 16th century = Orange-Brown.
ORANGE TAWNY. 16th century = Dark-Orange-Brown.
PEAR. 16th century.
PERSE Medieval. = Bluish-Grey.
PLUNKET. 16th century. = Light Blue.
POPINJAY. 16th century = either Green or Blue.
RATS COLOUR. 16th century. = a Dull-Grey.
ROY. 16th century. = a Bright-Tawny.
RUSSET. Medieval. = a Dark-Brown.
SAD. 16th century. = a dark tint of any colour.
SANQUIN. 16th century. = Blood-Red
SHEEPS COLOUR. 16th century. = a neutral colour.
STAMMEL. 16th century. = RED.
TAWNY. Medieval. = A Dusky Brown-Orange.
TOLEY. Medieval. = Scarlet.
VERMEL. Medieval. = Vermilion.
WATCHET. Medieval = Pale-Blue including Green.