Paper Making
Introduction and spread of papermaking technology from China through the Islamic world to Europe.
Who or what
Papermaking reached the Islamic world after the Battle of Talas (751), where Chinese prisoners revealed the technique.
By 800, paper mills operated in Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, Cordoba, and Fez.
Why it mattered
Paper was cheaper and more durable than parchment, enabling mass production of books and democratizing knowledge.
The paper revolution made the translation movement and the flourishing of libraries possible.
Key works and moments
Baghdad had over 100 paper mills by 900 CE.
The library of Tripoli reportedly held 3 million volumes before its destruction in 1109.
Further detail
Islamic papermakers improved Chinese techniques: linen and hemp fibers, starch sizing, watermarks.
The codex form (bound pages) replaced scrolls, enabling random access to text.
Legacy
Paper enabled the proliferation of books, libraries, and literacy across the Islamic world.
Paper reached Europe via Islamic Spain in the 12th century, enabling the Renaissance and printing press.
More in Islamic Golden Age
Assembled from the ReLU.chat curated knowledge base. These explanations are concise on purpose; check the sources for anything important.