Paper was invented in China during the Han Dynasty around the 2nd century CE.

The technology of papermaking slowly spread westward from China along the Silk Road.

It reached the Islamic world in the 8th century, and from there it was introduced to Europe via Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Paper was a much cheaper and more convenient writing surface than the parchment and vellum used in medieval Europe.

Woodblock printing was also invented in China and was used to reproduce texts and images.

The Chinese and Koreans later developed movable type using ceramics and metal, but the complexity of their writing systems limited its impact.

The revolutionary moment in Europe was Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press with movable metal type around 1450.

Gutenberg's press combined existing technologies and allowed for the mass production of books.

The combination of paper and the printing press dramatically lowered the cost of books and led to a surge in literacy.

This communication revolution was a key factor in the spread of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution.