How Paper Was Born—2,000 Years Ago

More than 2,000 years ago, before notebooks, newspapers, or even napkins, paper was invented in China by the Han dynasty.

These early papers were made from natural materials like mulberry bark, old rags, and even hemp, all mashed into pulp with water, pressed flat, and dried into thin sheets.

The Timeline of Paper

• About 2,000 years ago: Paper is invented in China (as you know).

• Around 1,300 years ago: Papermaking spreads to the Islamic world, where techniques improve using linen and cotton rags.

• About 1,100 years ago: The first paper mills appear in Europe (Spain and Italy), thanks to knowledge brought through trade and conquest.

• About 800 years ago: Europeans begin mass-producing paper using water-powered mills, now we're getting closer to “modern” paper.

• Mid-1800s: The biggest leap, wood pulp replaces rags as the main ingredient. This made paper much cheaper and faster to produce, and it’s the basic method still used today.