West Asian Papermaking

Timeline

1. c. 751–800Samarkand · TransoxianaAccording to Arabic historical tradition, Tang prisoners of war brought papermakers to Samarkand, where the first paper mills appeared, pulping rag fibers; paper began to replace expensive parchment for writing.
2. c. 793–950Baghdad · IraqDuring the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, state-run paper mills were built in Baghdad, and mills followed in Damascus, Tyre, and other cities; West Asian Islamic papermaking achieved large-scale production, and quality and cost advantages promoted the spread of administrative documents and book copying.
3. c. 1001–1010Core West Asian region of the Islamic world · Islamic worldBy the early 11th century, West Asian papermaking covered most Islamic regions from Egypt to Persia; mill products supported the bookshops and scholarly copying of Baghdad, Cairo, Córdoba, and other cities, while papermaking itself continued to improve sizing and calendering techniques.
4. c. 1100–1300Iberia and Italy · MediterraneanThrough Andalusian trade networks and those following the Crusades, West Asian papermaking technology reached Spain and Italy, with mills set up in places like Fabriano, laying the material foundation for the later rise of the European paper industry and printing.