Paper as we know it today was invented in approximately 105 A.D. by Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese court official during the Han Dynasty. He is credited with creating paper by mixing mulberry bark, hemp, and rags with water, mashing it into pulp, pressing out the liquid, and drying the thin mat in the sun. This invention marked a significant communication revolution, enabling cheaper and more abundant recording of information. However, archaeological evidence shows earlier forms of paper existing around 200 BCE in China, with fragments found dating back to between 179 BCE and 8 BCE. These earlier papers were made during the period of Emperor Wu in the Han dynasty, indicating that Ts’ai Lun's contribution was likely refining and popularizing papermaking rather than the original invention. Before true paper, materials like papyrus (used by ancient Egyptians around 4000 BCE) and parchment (made from animal skins) were used for writing, but they are not considered paper in the modern sense. In summary:

• Earliest paper fragments: circa 200 BCE in China.
• Traditional invention of paper: around 105 A.D. by Ts’ai Lun in China.
• Papyrus (an early paper-like material) was used by Egyptians around 4000 BCE but is distinct from paper.

This invention spread from China to the rest of Asia, the Islamic world, and then Europe over several centuries.