The Paper Trail: How Chinese Papermaking Transformed the World

Before the printing press, before the internet, there was paper. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the journey of papermaking from its invention in Han dynasty China around 105 CE by Cai Lun, through the Silk Road to Central Asia, the Middle East, and finally Europe. They explore the pivotal Battle of Talas in 751 CE, where Chinese papermakers were captured and brought to Samarkand, sparking a paper revolution in the Islamic world. Lucas explains how paper mills in Baghdad, Damascus, and later Italy transformed record-keeping, scholarship, and governance. The episode also touches on the earlier use of papyrus and parchment, and why paper's affordability and durability made it a game-changer. A story of technology, empire, and the quiet power of a sheet of fiber. #History #FexingoHistory #PaperHistory #SilkRoad #CaiLun #HanDynasty #BattleOfTalas #Samarkand #AbbasidCaliphate #Baghdad #Papermaking #ChineseInvention #TangDynasty #SilkRoadTrade #IslamicateScience #MedievalTechnology #Gutenberg #WorldHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo