The Minute: The Rise of Paper

The Minute series logo by Shalin Sinha

Paper is essential. Now in the age of digital tech, paper’s importance seems to be declining. In this article of The Minute, we’ll outline the key historical events and people that made paper the go-to choice to write stuff down.

History of Paper

• 3000 BC — Egyptians mastered the art of creating papyrus paper.
• 150 BC — First organized production of paper started in China. Paper was made from fishnets, water, and bark.
• 748 AD — First printed newspaper appeared in Peking.
• 1151 AD — Paper started being manufactured in Europe.
• 1282 AD — Watermarks started being used in Italy.
• 1450–55 AD— Gutenberg printed first bible with moveable type printing machine.
• 1690 AD — First papermill established in USA.
• 1705 AD — First American newspaper — Boston News Letter.
• 1798 — Paper machine created by inventor N. L. Robert.
• 1863 AD — First newspaper created from the “ground wood” paper.

Conclusion

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

While we traverse through the digital age, paper’s importance is on the decline. Paper’s history heavily influenced how we store information & knowledge before the age of computers. Even though in the future, paper might be on the verge of disappearing, it’s impact will always be remembered.