This book will describe paper in all its aspects, beginning with the history of paper. The main focus will be on the production of paper, and what kind of paper exist and what their use is. Ecology of paper making and alternatives for paper making will be part of the book as well.

Importance of paper

The invention of paper was of high importance for the social development of the human kind. Keeping information, especially for contractual obligations, was vital for the development of trade. Governing a country or an empire became so much easier, when laws and instructions could be written on paper (or any other information carrier) and could be distributed throughout the country or empire.

Without paper the reformation (a religious movement in the 16th century lead by Marten Luther and John Calvin) would not have been possible. One of the most important reasons the reformation could succeed is the fact that the bible was no longer exclusively for the religious clergy, the ordinary people could have access to Gods words. Paper as information carrier lead to education, which helped to develop communities and industry.

There used to be alternatives for paper, but none of them was so cheap and accessible in such huge quantities as paper.

The Gutenberg Bible, one of the first printed books	Old books in a library.