Science, Medicine & Engineering
Peerless
Cai Lun
48 β 121
Han official credited with inventing papermaking
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Why they are here
The Han dynasty court official traditionally credited with inventing paper, or perfecting its manufacture, in about AD 105.
Cai Lun presented a method of making paper from bark, hemp, rags and old fishing nets to the emperor in 105. Archaeological finds show cruder forms of paper existed earlier, but his process made writing material cheap and widely available.
Paper spread across Asia and eventually to the Islamic world and Europe, transforming record-keeping, scholarship and communication everywhere it went.
Paper spread across Asia and eventually to the Islamic world and Europe, transforming record-keeping, scholarship and communication everywhere it went.
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