The Origin of Paper

Although the term "paper" is derived from the Egyptian papyrus, a reed-like plant used by the ancient Egyptians to scribble their early writings on, paper, as we know it today and the method by which it is manufactured, was invented by the Chinese in the 2nd century. A.D.

A Chinese court official named Ts'ai Lun in 105 A.D. was the first to document the process of paper-making the way we know it today. Producing paper web from slurry of paper mulberry fibers in water, Ts'ai Lun then proceeded to place a small amount of the slurry on a rectangular sieve. To take away the water from the slurry as well as spread the fibers evenly, the sieve was shaken gently. As the water drained off, a thin sheet was formed which was then dried in the sun. This process produced high-quality paper and earned Ts'ai Lun the distinct honor of being labeled as the inventor of paper. 

Despite the inventors' efforts to keep their invention secret, the Chinese papermaking technique began to spread steadily from Asia, to Africa all the way to Europe. Soon, more and more books were being printed and people began to read more and become better educated.

All because of the discovery of paper.