-
140
Invention of paper in China
Ancient paper pieces from the Xuanquanzhi ruins of Dunhuang in China's northwest Gansu province apparently were made during the period of Emperor Wu who reigned between 140 BC and 86 BC. The creation of paper in China could be traded and shipped to Europe. -
140
China spread paper with Europe
From Samarkand, papermaking spread to Baghdad in the 8th century AD and into Damascus, Egypt, and Morocco by the 10th century. Many Chinese materials were not available to Middle Eastern papermakers, who instead used flax and other substitute fibers, as well as a human-powered triphammer to prepare the pulp. It took nearly 500 years for papermaking to reach Europe from Samarkand. This opened the door for books and other paper related inventions like the printing press. -
240
0 Egyptians create papyrus paper.
Egyptians came up with a way to record history. They designed their own paper called papyrus from reeds. The word 'paper' comes from the Egyptian word 'papyrus' which means "that which belongs to the house." Papyrus appeared in Egypt around 2400 B.C. -
Jan 1, 1040
Creation of the movible type printing in China
The movible type printing press was first developed in China. Since the langauge of China had too many characters, it didn't work and failed. This was the first few steps to the movible type printing press in Europe. -
Jan 1, 1300
creation of woodblock printing in Europe
Block printing first came to Europe as a method for printing on cloth, where it was common by 1300. Images printed on cloth for religious purposes could be quite large and elaborate, and when paper became relatively easily available. This was the first real type of printing, and it opened the door to many other styles of printing in later years. -
Jan 1, 1450
Creation of the movible type printing in Europe
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press of Europe using movible type. It was the key to spreading humanist ideas. It was the quickest way to print many books. More people learned to read. The creation of the printing press made paper more popular for books. This was one of the greatest inventions of the Renaissance. -
Modern paper being made
Modern paper is being made in millions of stacks every few minutes all across the world.