The Han Dynasty

Paper is one of the simple items that is taken for granted in the modern world. From paper money to magazines, and textbooks, it is a fundamental part of life today. This invention has been around for thousands of years, and its beginnings were part of a complex process to create it. The origin of paper dates back to 105 AD in ancient China during the Han Dynasty. The invention of paper had a tremendous impact within China, and subsequently Europe during the Renaissance, due to its ability to spread ideas and information to large amounts of people over great distances.

After years of strenuous times during fall of the Ch’in Dynasty, a commoner, Liu Bang, triumphed over rivals and led the Han Dynasty lasting from 202 BC to 220 AD. The Han dynasty

was a golden age in which there were many accomplishments in different areas including art, politics, and technology. Trade greatly expanded due to the establishment of the Silk Road which linked China to Europe and led to a great source of wealth. The great leader Liu Bang created a central government and bureaucracy to run China. Another one of the Han Dynasty’s greatest rulers was Wudi, who led China for five decades. The Han Dynasty introduced many new advancements including paper which positively impacted the society. (“Han Dynasty”)

In 105 AD, Cai Lun, a Chinese court official, was ordered by the emperor to organize piles of books in the library. At the time, these books were written on heavy wooden boards. After struggling with these materials, he then realized there should be a lighter and more convenient material that could be used instead of wood. Cai Lun began researching other potential processes became aware that any material that could be beaten into fiber could be made a writing surface. (Myers) Ultimately, he was able to develop a new process for making paper still used today as he was the first person to ever succeed in making paper from vegetable fibers. To create paper, Cai Lun used old fish nets, mulberry bark, hemp, and rags and cut them into small pieces. Then, he smashed it into pulp, mixed it with water and then dried it on a piece of fine cloth so the water could drain. (Brown) The invention of paper had a strong impact on China because as compared to old writing surfaces, the new thinner more lightweight material was a much more productive and convenient.

With a more efficient and accessible process, paper became more useful in ancient China. One of the main uses of paper, is to keep military records. These records were written on thin strips of bamboo or wood which were bound together with string. Paper was also used by the government to keep records and easily write down laws. Education also greatly expanded due to paper. Books were now

After he perfected his invention, Cai Lun officially presented his idea to the emperor, and his paper immediately became popular throughout China.

(Myers) Before the creation of paper, people in Ancient China wrote on stone, silk, wood and bamboo. Most commonly, books were written on silk which was a major export in China at the time. Subsequently, paper was invented and became a much more suitable solution. Paper was much cheaper, so books became more readily available to the public and easier to get a hand of. Paper also greatly influenced Chinese government. Prior to the invention, all government documents had been carved on strips of wood. Paper was much more convenient to use to keep records, and as a result, Chinese bureaucracy expanded. As a result, education greatly expanded in China. Books were now easy to get so the ability to spread and share knowledge. Paper had a very strong impact on its civilization by helping it become stronger in many ways including improving its education and government. (Beck

203)

After the fall of the Middle Ages, Northern Italy had an explosion of creativity or the rebirth of learning which produced many great works of art and literature, and paper gave people the ability to create them.

Paper was being used to help spread ideas. (Beck 471) Thoughts that were recorded on manuscripts began to be studied by scholars to assist in creating a new outlook on life, called humanism. Humanism was a system of thought based on human ideas and potential. Some of the greatest pieces of writing have been written during this time. (Beck 472) During the Elizabethan age, with the help of paper, William Shakespeare created his famous plays. (Beck 483) In 1452, Johann Gutenberg combined public knowledge from Europe and Asia to create the printing press. This created the ability to quickly produce books without handwriting them. (Beck 484) The invention of paper greatly influenced the time of the Renaissance by providing a way to quickly spread ideas. Printing helped by making information more available while being inexpensive to produce largely and the greater availability of books created an increased desire for learning and a rise in literacy through Europe. This helped spread education which significantly improved their civilization. The invention of paper not only had a strong impact on its civilization but many others including ones from the Renaissance. (Beck

485)

The invention of paper had a tremendous impact within China, and subsequently Europe during the Renaissance, due to its ability to spread ideas and information to large amounts of people over great distances. Cai Lun’s invention altered the way many different societies recorded and shared their lives. Although paper still has its place in society today, many new mediums replace it. For thousands of years, paper was the primary product for written records, books, etc. But, in the future, will paper soon become obsolete against technology.