Ancient Writing - Papyrology
One of the materials on which ancient scribes wrote was the Egyptian reed called Papyrus. The study of ancient writing on papyrus is known as papyrology.

Writing, Books, and Libraries - A Historical Account
Writing, Books, and Libraries - A Historical Account, by James Westfall Thompson presents the history of papyrus writing on scrolls through animal skins, the use of various writing implements, information on reading aloud and cataloguing of books.

Chronological Timetable of Book History
Clay tablets, papyrus, bamboo, parchment, wax tablets, and paper were all used between 3500 and 100 BC. Timetable extends to 16th C.

Forerunners to Paper
From Institute of Paper Science and Technology, clay tablets, bark, leaves, papyrus, and rice were all used for written communication.

History of Paper
In 3,000 B.C. Ancient Egyptians invented the first substance like paper as we know it, papyrus, woven from reeds, pounded together into a hard, thin sheet In A.D. 105 paper as we know it was invented by Ts'ai Lun, a Chinese court official. Ts'ai mixed mulberry bark, hemp, and rags with water, mashed it into a pulp, pressed out the liquid and hung the thin mat to dry in the sun.

The Invention of Paper
The actual invention of papermaking may have been 200 years earlier, but Ts'ai Lun he deserves the place of honor he has been given in Chinese history for his role in developing paper, a material that revolutionized his country.

Return to Language Index