Capture

The Evolution of Paper

By Ryan Mok
  • 105

    First Paper Created

    First Paper Created
    The first paper was created in the Chinese Han Dynasty in AD 105. A man named Ts'ai Lun flattened the bark of a mulberry tree into a sheet that could be written on. Later, it was discovered that old fishnets and rags could improve the quality of paper. Soon, the process of paper-making spread to other countries in Asia and also to Europe via the Silk Road. http://www.silk-road.com/artl/papermaking.shtml
  • Jan 1, 1279

    The Paper Making Process is Improved

    The Paper Making Process is Improved
    Although the Chinese tried to keep paper a secret, many other countries invaded areas of China and found Chinese paper. When paper arrived in Italy around the 13th century, two Italian paper-makers improved the process in which paper was created, using water to power machinery, a stamp mill to produce pulp more efficiently, and drying on ropes to dry faster. All these advances made paper stronger and easier to create. http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=2949
  • Jan 1, 1391

    The First Toilet Paper

    The First Toilet Paper
    Toilet Paper was first used around the 14th century, by the royalty of China. The paper was made in 2 ft by 3 ft sheets, and the Chinese Bureau of Imperial Supplies made 720,000 sheets per year. Many other societies had their own self-cleaning tools before the Chinese, but the Chinese were the first to use paper to cleanse themselves. http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com/toilet-paper-history/complete-historical-timeline

  • The First "White" Paper

    The First "White" Paper
    In 1785, French Chemist Claude-Louis Bertholett invented the chemical bleaching of pulp, making paper even stronger and perhaps making the first paper that was actually "white". By this time, demand for paper had boomed, paper mills were everywhere, and the trade in raw materials for paper like rags and bark had to be regulated. http://www.paperonline.org/history-of-paper/timeline

  • The First Wood Paper

    The First Wood Paper
    In 1843, raw materials for paper like rags were getting harder to find, and an attempt to make paper from straw failed due to quality concerns. However, Saxon Friedrich Gottlob Keller invented a wood grinding machine that could turn wood into pulp. In 1854, Hugh Burgers and Charles Watt used a wood grinding machine to create the first wood-based paper, and patented their process. Now, paper has become part of our everyday lives. http://www.paperonline.org/history-of-paper/timeline