History of Paper - Timeline - 500
Part of the fun of technology is knowing when and how it began and how it
developed over time. Here is a brief summary of the history of paper.
When we talk about the process of making paper it is important to know exactly
what "paper" is. For this reason we need to
establish a definition of paper.
"To be classed as true paper the
thin sheets must be made from fibre that has been macerated until
each individual filament is a separate unit; the fibres intermixed
with water, and by the use of a sieve-like screen, the fibres lifted
from the water in the form of a thin stratum, the water draining
through the small openings of the screen, leaving a sheet of matted
fibre upon the screen's surface. This thin layer of intertwined
fibre is paper."
(Hunter, Papermaking, p.5) |
From here we can establish a timeline for the history of paper- making and
printing, including associated historic events. This may seem like a
long history, but considering wasps have been making paper since before the
dinosaurs, this is just a brief history.
- Years -
< 500 | 500 - 1000 |
1000 - 1500 |1500 > |
c. 200 BCE |
Rosetta Stone engraved in Egypt; Parchment
manufacture refined in Pergamon.(Asia Minor); use of gears leads to
invention of ox-driven water wheel for irrigation. |
c. 150 BCE |
Chinese make oldest known
paper from macerated hemp fibers, plant bark, and old fishnets in a
water suspension. |
149 |
Hu Shin produces Chinese dictionary of
10,000 characters. |
79 |
Mt. Vesuvius erupts: Pompeii, Herculaneum,
and Stabiae destroyed. |
105 CE |
Ts'ai Lun, in China,
writes the first record of papermaking. The art is practiced in Tun
Huang in 150, in Loulan by 200 and in Niya about 250-300. |
250 |
Diophantus of Alexandria produces the first
book on algebra. |
c. 271 |
First form of compass used in China. |
400 |
First records of Japanese history. |
425 |
Founding of Constantinople University. |
500 |
Mayans already using
amatl (bark paper) by this time. |
c. 500 |
Incense introduced into Christian church
service. |
< 500 | 500 - 1000 |
1000 - 1500 |1500 >
- Years -
|
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