Italy was the first country in the world to use paper. This new technology was brought to Italy in 1295 by Marco Polo, an Italian explorer. He introduced woodblock printing to Italy and the process spread across Europe. As a result, the paper industry boomed in Italy. Today, the country is one of the leading producers of cellulose and cardboard. It is estimated that the country produces more than a billion sheets per year.
Produced High Quality Paper
The city of Fabriano produced high quality paper, which contributed to the expansion of the printing industry in Italy in the 15th century. Although not the first city in Europe to produce paper, Fabriano was the most influential in the country during this period. In addition to using water powered multiple-headed stampers to make pulp from rags, he also coated paper sheets with animal gelatin size to provide strength and a smooth surface for the ink. Moreover, he also introduced the use of watermarks to identify domestically produced paper.
Large Quantities
In 1250, Fabriano becomes a major paper producing country. The Italians continued to produce large quantities of paper and dominated the European market for many years. However, in the early 15th century, France’s monks began producing paper for holy texts, which led to the invention of paper machines in France. The French quickly adapted the technology and became a self-sufficient and competitive paper producer.
Papermaking Technology
After the Arabs brought papermaking to the Iberian Peninsula, it subsequently spread throughout the Mediterranean region and was introduced to Italy by the Spanish. The Middle East was the first place to produce paper, while China and Arabia used hand-pounded pulp. However, Europeans developed mills using trip hammers and water powered stampers. The Renaissance era saw the beginning of modern papermaking in Italy. This was a breakthrough in papermaking technology.
Manufacture Their Own Paper
Initially, papermaking was a relatively complex process that was mainly confined to Spain. In Italy, it was not widespread. After Spain, the technology spread to the Iberian Peninsula and mainland Italy. It was not until the 13th century CE that Italians were able to manufacture their own paper that they were able to export it to other countries in the region. This allowed Italians to make their own papers and sell them for a profit.
Use of Watermarks
In the tenth century, Arab papermakers pasted their trademarks on bundles of paper. In the tenth century, it became fashionable to paste these trademarks on paper. It was not until the Renaissance that the use of watermarks began in Italy. As a result, it was made possible to create unique and attractive paper. In the early sixteenth century, the first papers were made in the Mediterranean.
Combination of vellum
In the tenth century, Arabs were the first to use paper. By the 12th century, papermaking was widespread in the Marche of Ancona. During the fifteenth century, the Italians began to use parchment as well. By the fourteenth century, the Fabriano papermakers began using a combination of vellum and cellulose in their manuscripts. By the thirteenth century, Fabriano dominated the papermaking industry in the entire of Italy.
It spread north of the Mediterranean and
The use of paper in Italy was first used in the tenth century in Arab areas of Spain. In the eleventh century, it spread north of the Mediterranean and influenced the production of paper throughout the rest of Europe. In the fifteenth century, it reached the rest of Europe, and the use of paper in a large scale became widespread. The introduction of brass wire molds in papermaking made it possible to introduce watermarks to Italy.
Need of Raw Materials
The paper industry was in dire need of raw materials. The invention of papermaking in Italy paved the way for the development of paper manufacturing in the world. Its widespread use led to the development of a large number of industries and revolutionized the way people produce and consume paper. They also introduced the spinning-wheel and flax-breakers to Europe. Despite the fact that this was an expensive process, it is still a popular tool to make a high-quality sheet of cellulose.
