Early communication technology

MSTD 300 Media History
MSTD 328 Print Production

The word "paper" is derived from the papyrus plant, a marsh reed seen here growing along the Nile River.

Papyrus had long fibers which enhanced its durability and also had starch, which acted as a glue or "sizing" for the fibers.

Use of papyrus allowed cheap, flexible communication within the Egyptian empire as early as 2000 BC.

The papyrus reeds were laid in criss-cross patterns and pounded together.

They were quite brittle but did serve the purpose of controlling a far-flung empire.

Tens of thousands of scrolls have survived to this day.

Papyrus had very little strength compared to parchment, which was a sheet of animal skin split and trimmed into a square.

Sometimes animal skins were stitched together end to end to form a roll. But in the late Roman empire, and in the Medieval period, it was found to be more convenient to stitch one side up. This was the beginning of the "book" as we know it.

Tree bark or bamboo was a typical source of paper in China. In Europe, linnen and cotton rags were often used.

In both cases, the fibers were beaten in water to make a pulp.

Sheets of paper were made by pulling a wire screen (or mold) through a vat of pulpy water. The liquid ran through, leaving a thin layer of fibers.

Paper making moved from China to the Middle East. In 751 AD, Chinese papermakers were captured in the battle of Samarkind and papermaking spread through Moslem Empire.

By 1200 AD papermaking had reached as far as Spain and Italy. Many Greek works translated to Arabic were written on the new, cheap paper and kept in the famous library in Seville.

Climate changes in 13th & 14th century (mini-ice age) meant lots of underwear, and paper was made from used underwear every spring. The flax (linnen) was cleaned, soaked, pounded, separated, pressed.