The History of Paper

Writing in the mud

Writing on stones and bones

Writing on bamboo slips and silk in China

Cai Lun's new paper in the East Han Dynasty

People wrote on heavy or expensive materials.

Cai Lun made a better way to make paper.

The art of Paper-making art travelled around the world.

By the 19th century, paper was made from cheap wood.

Mud (washed away by rain)

Stones and bones (hard and heavy)

Bamboo slips (too heavy) and silk (too expensive)

Paper (light and cheap)