Who Invented Paper for the first time and discovered?

Paper is a nonwoven material composed of a mix of milled plant and textile fibers that have been used for writing, art, and packaging.

It’s commonly white because it’s mostly utilized for writing, artwork, and packaging.

During the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE), Cai Lun, a court official in China’s Han Dynasty, gathered bamboo slips to invent the first piece of paper with adhesive force.

This innovation was quickly adopted by the court and broadened to be used for signs, clothing, armor, flags, furniture tags, tickets, money/currency vouchers issued by government authorities.

Paper from China

The invention of paper is uncertain, with evidence dating back to before the reign of Cai Lun, an imperial eunuch official of the Han dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE).

The earliest known piece of paper was discovered in Fangmatan in Gansu province and was most likely a map dating to 179–141 BCE.

Paper fragments have also been found at Dunhuang dated to 65 BCE.

These fragments are the earliest known samples of paper, predating the first use of paper in the Han dynasty.

Cai Lun, according to the traditional account, is credited with fabricating paper more than a hundred years after the fact.

The invention was a type of paper composed of mulberry and other bast fibers as well as fishing nets, old rags, and hemp waste, which decreased the cost of paper production by relying on rag rather than tree pulp.

Uses of the paper

The earliest known usage of paper was for padding and wrapping delicate bronze mirrors, according to archaeological evidence dating from the reign of Emperor Wu of Han in the second century BCE.

Padding served both as protection for the item and for the user in instances where poisonous “medicine” was present, according to China’s official history of the 3rd century CE.

However, variations in the proportions of plant fibers, in addition to differences in mold shape and compaction, regardless of paper’s intended purpose, are often used to distinguish varieties of paper made at different times or places.

A rough classification can be made based on the dominant fiber in the paper:

“Paper on which there are quotations or commentaries from Five Classics or the names of sages, I dare not employ for toilet needs,” wrote Yan Zhitui (531–591), a Chinese scholar-official, in 589.

“Water does not wash them when they have completed their requirements, instead, they just wipe themselves with paper.”

It was also used for wrapping delicate items such as sculptures.

The use of paper spread from China through the rest of East Asia and later into Central Asia, where it was adopted by Muslims in Baghdad during the Abbasid Era (750–1258) who began using it in making books.

Modern research has determined that there were 76 individual mills in the city producing paper, including more specialized mills making printing paper, wrapping paper, and wall hanging paper.

By the 11th century CE, the paper had reached Constantinople in the Byzantine Empire (present-day Istanbul), where it was highly regarded by monks who developed acid-free versions of it.

The Arabs also began to make their own paper around this time.

For the most part, papermaking was incorporated as part of the silk road trade and traveled along with other goods and innovations to Samarkand where it flourished under Sultani Abu’l-Muzaffar ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Jaihani’s reign during the 9th century.

Techniques creating paper

The evolution of papermaking techniques has been a long and fascinating journey, with each advancement contributing to the refinement and accessibility of this essential material.

Here are some key milestones in the history of papermaking:

Ancient China (200 BCE)

The history of papermaking in China dates back to around 200 BCE when the earliest known paper was used for religious purposes.

Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese court official, documented the papermaking process in 105 CE, which initially served religious, governmental, and elite commercial purposes.

600 CE

By 600 CE, papermaking had spread to Korea, where significant advancements were made, including the introduction of an animal-powered grinding mill for pulping, the invention of the laid paper mold, and the method of drying wet paper on wooden boards, enabling faster reuse of molds.

770 CE

Japan adopted papermaking in 770 CE through Korean Buddhist monks, and by the 8th century, the knowledge reached Arab territories, leading to the establishment of paper mills across their lands.

11th-12th Century

The Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries disrupted paper production centers in the Holy Land, prompting the relocation of production to other regions, thus pushing papermaking closer to Europe.

14th-15th Century

In the 14th and 15th centuries, papermaking expanded to European countries, particularly with the invention of movable-type printing in the 15th century, which fueled a surge in paper demand.

18th-19th Century

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the industrialization of paper production, driven by the rise of mass-circulation newspapers and bestselling books, requiring large quantities of affordable paper.

In 1797, Louis Nicolas Robert invented the Fourdrinier machine, capable of producing long sheets of paper.

19th Century

Throughout the 19th century, advancements in fiber extraction from trees significantly lowered paper production costs, leading to widespread consumption.

20th-21st Century

In the 20th and 21st centuries, organizations like the Technical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and the Institute for Paper Chemistry were founded to conduct research into papermaking chemistry and techniques, further advancing the industry.

Papyrus paper

Papyrus paper is the oldest form of papermaking.

The traditional method does not use any chemicals but instead relies on carefully peeled and pared fibrous plant stems to create a thin, delicate sheet of paper.

The technique has changed little since it was invented in Northern Egypt over 5,000 years ago.

Until the dawn of the 20th century, every sheet of paper in the world was made by hand, on a small scale, using this exact method.

Even today, many Islamic countries still use handmade paper to print their holy book – the Quran.

Papyrus paper is made from the stem of the papyrus plant.

The most desirable stems come from female plants, grown in shallow, mineral-rich water.

The fibers are extracted by breaking them off with the fingers or cutting them off with knives.

Any rough edges are smoothed with small tools called “scrapers”.

The sheet is then laid out on the floor to dry in direct sunlight.

After drying, sheets of paper are smoothed with a long wooden pole called an “idol” and polished with pumice stones to create a smooth writing surface.

The finished sheets are usually no more than 10cm (4 inches) wide and between 5-10 meters (16-33 feet) long.

See also: An explanation of when and how electricity was invented
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Paper on parchment

Parchment paper is made using the same method as papyrus, but instead of producing a sheet, individual pages are cut from the longer sheets.

This yields slightly thicker paper than papyrus and also strengthens the material so it can be written on both sides.

Because parchment uses less plant material, it is much more economical to produce.

Parchment was the first paper used in book-making.

Unlike papyrus, parchment has some waterproofing properties, making it suitable for use with ink.

This is probably why the word “paper” comes from an old Latin term for “papyrus” – “pappus”.

The dry sheets of parchment are folded and fed into a wooden press to be flattened and smoothed.

Once stretched, the pages will stay flat for heavy inks or paints.

Parchment is still used today in book-binding and to protect fine art paintings.

It is also widely used in food packaging, especially for cheese wrapping.

How paper revolutionized information sharing and communication?

Paper revolutionized information sharing and communication by providing a convenient and affordable medium for preserving written content.

This allowed for the dissemination of knowledge and ideas across vast distances, facilitating cultural exchange and the spread of new technologies.

Here are some ways in which paper revolutionized information sharing and communication:

Written culture

The invention of paper led to a flourishing of literary creativity and written culture, which included works on geography, astronomy, medicine, and mathematics.

This, in turn, led to a rise in popular literature being inexpensively copied and made more easily available to the general public.

Cultural exchange

Paper allowed for the exchange of knowledge and ideas between different cultures along the Silk Roads. As paper spread, the means of production quickly followed, often employing different materials depending on what was most easily available in the new locale.

This facilitated further intercultural exchange and the spread of knowledge.

Preservation of knowledge

Paper was a convenient and durable medium for preserving written content, which was particularly important for religious texts and official documents.

This enabled the preservation and transmission of knowledge over time and across different regions.

Efficient communication

Paper made it easier to communicate information over long distances, as it was lightweight and could be easily transported.

This was particularly important for merchants and traders, who used paper as a means of recording and transmitting information about their business transactions.

Scientific and technological advancements

Paper played a crucial role in the development of scientific and technological advancements, as it allowed for the recording and dissemination of new discoveries and innovations.

For example, the printing press, which was developed using paper, revolutionized the way information was shared and disseminated, leading to significant advancements in various fields, including science, medicine, and education.