The history of the press or which people invented paper

Asking the question of which people invented the paper, one should consider the history of the press, which begins with the development of writing in Egypt, Babylon and China. It is here that three main printing systems emerged.

In Egypt, several millennia ago, carved historical narratives on the pyramid stones. Also, written signs were found on the brick ruins of Babylon. Ancient libraries were records on clay boards, and a little later - on stone and bronze plates.

Progress was the discovery of papyrus, as a material for writing, the people of Egypt. But due to the limited distribution of papyrus, as well as the difficulties in its manufacture, a new type of material for writing appeared-a parchment that was strong. However, all these materials were not suitable for mass printing of books, it was required to create cheap new material. Thus, paper was soon invented. However, many people have questions about the country in which they invented the paper.

According to many legends, it was in 153 BC that paper was invented in China. And this is not accidental, because this country was famous for its book wisdom, so there was a constant need for inexpensive material for writing. Raw material for her was the fiber of bamboo and silk wood. Inventor Tai Lun, these components were boiled, crushed, and from the resulting mass formed sheets, called "shea". So the Chinese pushed the bark of the tree to separate the fibers, the resulting mixture was poured onto large trays, the bottom of which was lined with narrow bands of bamboo. After the water glass, sheets of paper dried on a flat surface, covered with old rags and bamboo. Somewhat later, the quality of the paper was improved by adding starch in its manufacture. Also sometimes glue and various natural dyes were added.

However, in the last century in the northern province of China , a tomb was discovered in the Baoz cave, where sheets of paper dating back to the 2nd century BC were found. Scientists, for a long time studying what people invented paper, finally found the answer to this question. They found that this paper was made of hemp and silk, which was produced from defective cocoons of silkworms. According to some Chinese legends, women cooked silkworm cocoons, washed them and crushed them until a paper mass was obtained, after which the resulting sheets were dried. Such a paper was called "wadded", its cost was quite high, since the raw materials for its production were very expensive.

At the time of Tai Lun paper became a common material not only for writing, but for many other needs. However, the paper of the Chinese people had a significant drawback - it was loose, so the paint that was applied to it when writing, spread, and it was very easily torn.

Having information about which people invented the paper, it is possible to trace how the technology of manufacturing it spread all over the world. So, the technology of its manufacture   Gradually moved to the West, becoming a part of the culture of other nations. Gradually, the Chinese transfer the method of making paper to Persia, Arabia, Egypt, and from these countries - to Europe. Since the XV century, paper production is beginning to grow, but it was quite primitive. So, the mass used for the production of paper was grinded by hand with wooden hammers in stupas with a mesh bottom.

Such an important event as the invention of paper in China had great consequences for the country and the world, for the first time in the history of mankind people received accessible material for writing, which is not replaced until today. Currently, Tai Lun is considered to be the greatest inventor in the history not only of China, but of all mankind. Therefore, if the question arises as to which people invented the paper, one can safely say that this is a great Chinese people.