Papermaking

People used a variety of materials, including wood, stone, and bone, before paper was invented to write on. Papyrus is a form of reed that was discovered by the Egyptians around 2200 BC. It could be used to write on by layering thin strips that had been soaked in water. Papyrus is where we get the word "paper."

Ts'ai Lun (or Chai Lun), a member of the imperial court, is credited with creating paper in ancient China around 105 AD during the reign of the Han emperor He Di. However, a recent archeological investigation reveals that the ancient Chinese military employed paper 200 years prior to its invention.

Ts'ai Lun made a sheet out of the mulberry tree's bark by pounding the fibers. Later, he learned that adding hemp and using fishnets to the pulp would improve the paper's quality. Paper quickly replaced other writing tools, and it didn't take long for China as a whole to adopt paper generally. Later, the Silk Road was used to transport paper to the rest of the globe.