| − | '''Paper''' is a material used for writing, printing, wrapping, and other uses. It is a thin material made of fibers, usually [[cellulose]] from [[wood]] pulp or from other plant fibers such as [[rice]]. The word paper comes from [[papyrus]], which was an early form of writing material used in ancient [[Egypt]]. Papyrus however, is not paper - it is reed strips pounded together. True paper, or paper made from the cellulose and wood pulp of plant materials, was invented in the [[Han Dynasty]] around the 2nd century B.C. | + | '''Paper''' is a material used for writing, printing, packaging, wrapping, cleaning and other uses. It is a thin material made of fibers, usually [[cellulose]] from [[wood]] pulp or from other plant fibers wood, such as [[rice]], rags or [[grass]]es. |
| − | [[Category: Writing]] | + | The word paper comes from [[papyrus]], which was an early form of writing material used in ancient [[Egypt]]. Papyrus however, is not paper - it is reed strips pounded together. True paper, or paper made from the cellulose and wood pulp of plant materials, was invented in the [[Han Dynasty]] around the 2nd century B.C. In [[Mediaeval]] [[Europe]] parchment or vellum was made from animal skin. Calf skin or sheep skin was also occasionally used. Books were made from parchment the way paper is used today. |