The value of the invention of paper for the development ofmankind really be overemphasized. After all, passion for, to leave a message to descendants, was characterized by even those people who were still living in caves.
However, because the writing was not there, they had to draw on the stone.
By the beginning of our era, the need for affordablematerial for writing was tested not only poets and writers, but also caused by the time the state structure, fruit of many regulations.
What is written before the invention of paper
When writing appeared, people beganuse natural materials to convey their thoughts and messages. In Russia, for example, for the letter was used to strip off the bark of birch trees, on the back side and a scratch out the letters. Ironically, a few birch-bark letters even survived to our time and were found during excavations in Novgorod. Preserved ancient papyri - paper made of natural plant material, consisting of thin strips of compacted, stacked across each other. As writing material used fabric, leaves, leather, wood and clay tablets, but these materials were either too short-lived, or are very expensive.
China - the birthplace of the inventor of paper
At the beginning of the II century ADIn some sources mention 105 other - 153 years, Chinese inventor Cai Lun invented a completely new writing material manufacturing technology. This technology has been very time-consuming, but the hard-working Chinese people are all recognized feature of their national character. As raw material for the paper to use internal, fibrous part of the cortex, removed from the mulberry tree. The fibers are separated from the outer part, mingled with feathered flax, shabby rags, scraps of fishing nets, straw, bast, removed from young bamboo stems. Then all that is filled with water and ground into a large stone mortar until a homogeneous slurry state.
After this slurry were laid flat thinlayer to dry on wooden frames, between which was stretched a fine mesh, woven of fine silk. Water freely through it was like, and wet paper pulp remained homogeneous and dry up pretty quickly. Finished sheets of paper carefully removed from the frame and cut, so that they can be used for writing and drawing.
Inventor awaited reward and paper technologyIt has been carefully kept secret. But during one of the wars with the Arabs in 751, they captured were Chinese workers, who worked previously in the paper manufacturing for the emperor court. The secret was known to the Arabs, who are also in no hurry to share with him. Arabs first paper made in Samarkand, and then began to expand its production. The paper was produced on Damascus steel manufactories exported to Europe, where it was called "damask sheets." But, of course, to thank for the invention to be Chinese.