<P> Paper is a white material primarily used for writing . Although contemporary precursors such as papyrus and amate existed in the Mediterranean world and pre-Columbian Americas , respectively , these materials are not defined as true paper . The first papermaking process was documented in China during the Eastern Han period ( 25 -- 220 C.E. ) , traditionally attributed to the court official Cai Lun . During the 8th century , Chinese papermaking spread to the Islamic world , where pulp mills and paper mills were used for money making . By the 11th century , papermaking was brought to medieval Europe , where it was refined with the earliest known paper mills utilizing waterwheels . Later Western improvements to the papermaking process came in the 19th century with the invention of wood - based papers . </P>
<P> Paper is a white material primarily used for writing . Although contemporary precursors such as papyrus and amate existed in the Mediterranean world and pre-Columbian Americas , respectively , these materials are not defined as true paper . The first papermaking process was documented in China during the Eastern Han period ( 25 -- 220 C.E. ) , traditionally attributed to the court official Cai Lun . During the 8th century , Chinese papermaking spread to the Islamic world , where pulp mills and paper mills were used for money making . By the 11th century , papermaking was brought to medieval Europe , where it was refined with the earliest known paper mills utilizing waterwheels . Later Western improvements to the papermaking process came in the 19th century with the invention of wood - based papers . </P>
paper as we know it would not have been available in europe until
paper as we know it would not have been available in europe until
the 11th century
the 11th century