Since paper was invented 2,000 years ago, it has played a huge role throughout history.
Prior to the invention of paper and printing, most information was shared verbally. While oral history was crucial to human civilization, it provided no means for storing information, leaving significant pieces of history unrecorded.
Humans recorded information long before the invention of paper by carving pictures and symbols into tree bark, painting on cave walls, and marking them on papyrus or clay tablets. The oldest known drawing, found on a small rock in South Africa, was made 73,000 years ago.
So, just how much has paper impacted the world as we know it? How much does paper affect your daily life, really?
The following are some of the most significant ways paper has shaped modern society.
Paper And Ecommerce.
The invention of paper revolutionized trade and commerce.
Chinese merchants and traders have used paper money since the 13th century, backed by precious metals. This was a lightweight, durable, and safe replacement for bullion—varying precious metal used as currency.
It was the rise of paper money that established the interconnected global financial system of today.
Paper And The Future.
Thanks to paper, human civilization has been empowered to learn, communicate, and create, as well as document the present and preserve the past.
Even as forms of digital communication continue to rise, the use of paper continues to be an integral part of modern life, whether you’re printing a project, receiving a letter, maintaining a physical copy of information, and more.
The future of paper presents endless possibilities for communication.
