Area Rugs Western
The origin of carpet weaving in Europe is not very clear but some western countries did produce flat weaves and carpets more than a thousand years before the pile carpets were introduced in Europe.
Many evidences show that Oriental carpets were first time imported after 1000 AD. That means that the technique of pileknotting could at least be known(if not right away imitated resulting in area rugs western) at that time.
Area rugs western usually were woven using the single knot. The proof of that fact can be found in Spanish carpets(but no link with Spanish weavers has been determined clearly).
At the beginning of 13 century Eleanor of Castile brought along with her into England a great number of Spanish rugs. That types of area rugs western may have come from Cordoba or Granada.
Step-by-step, the wealthier man of England started using area rugs western in their rich homes.
Many people believe that Venice had imported area rugs from Asia in the 15th century and that means Europeans like Oriental rugs more then that of their own.
That is proved by the fact that by the end of the 17th century, Persian rugs were the highest appreciated in Europe.
In the middle of the 19th century almost all Europian countries were weaving area rugs western of their own.
Today, handmade area rugs western are rare as their industry cannot compete with the quality and cost of labor of Oriental rugs.