Post #4: The Invention of Paper

 For my EOTO project, I ended up researching the invention of paper. I think this is one of the more interesting inventions because of how long ago it was invented and how it's still widely used to this day.

    To start, well before paper was invented, humans would instead communicate using similar objects such as tree bark, cave walls, and clay tablets. They would mainly draw pictures and symbols on these objects to communicate. Closer to the invention of paper, at least in China, books we're either made out of bamboo or silk. Silk was very expensive while bamboo was heavy and difficult to use.

    Around 2000 years ago, the first form of paper was invented by Ts'ai Lun who made it in Lei-Yang, China. It was made by mixing mulberry bark, hemp and rags with water. It would then be mashed into pulp, then the liquid would be pressed out and the resulting paper would be hung out to dry. Ts'ai Lun then presented his invention to the Emperor Han Ho Ti who promoted him for his invention.

    Once paper was invented, it was now possible for people to more easily record their writings and drawings than before with the added ability of being able to more easily transport their work. It's hard to imagine what we would've used if paper hadn't been invented.

    China managed to keep the art of paper making a secret for around 500 years. Some Chinese paper makers were captured by Arabs in 751 which led to paper making it's way to the middle east. Around 300 years later Europe would learn papermaking from the Arabs. Paper mills were then created by Europeans to streamline paper production allowing paper to be used in the production of books, bibles, legal documents and more.   

    The first US paper mills was created in 1690. It's paper was originally created using cloth before the material was replaced with wood due to its abundance and how inexpensive it was. Paper is still made in this way today, with the wood coming from sustainably managed forests as well as recycled paper. From my research, it seems that the early history of paper production in the US hasn't been documented all too well.