Chinese Invention Project: Paper
By: Abby Schuele
History of Paper
Chinese wrote on bamboo and bone and silk, but silk was way too expensive to write on, and bamboo was way too heavy to carry. So, the Chinese people came up with the idea of writing and drawing on papyrus. This papyrus was nice, but they needed something else. The reason for that is, the papyrus plant requires subtropical conditions to grow. The process of creating the papyrus paper very slow. So, eventually Cai Lun invented the product of paper which was made out of worn fishnet, bark, and cloth. This making the paper cheaper and lighter.
Why was Paper important to Ancient China?
Why is Paper important to us now?
Here is a short video about how the Ancient Chinese people used paper.
Fun Facts About Paper
* Silk and bamboo were used as paper before paper was invented.
* Everyday in the US, paper makers recycle enough paper to fill a fifteen mile long train of boxcars.
* The Ancient Chinese people didn't tell other countries about how to make paper for a long time.