<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> The word "paper" is etymologically derived from papyrus, Ancient Greek for the Cyperus papyrus plant . Papyrus is a thick, paper - like material produced from the pith of the Cyperus papyrus plant which was used in ancient Egypt and other Mediterranean societies for writing long before paper was used in China . Papyrus however are plants pressed and dried, while paper is made from fibers whose properties have been changed by maceration or disintegration . </P>

Paper as we know it would not have been available in europe until