Papyrus

Papyrus, discovered by the ancient Egyptians over 5,000 years ago, was one of the first writing materials and an important tool for the recording of human knowledge. It allowed ancient peoples like Egypt, Greece, and Rome to record laws, literature, scientific discoveries, and religious beliefs. Although papyrus itself was eventually displaced by parchment and then paper, the technology it introduced—encoding knowledge in written form—remained one of the most important technologies in human progress. This was especially true during the Renaissance, that cultural and intellectual renewal that began in the 14th century. Renaissance scholars and artists drew heavily on the works of ancient civilizations, some of whose works had been preserved to the modern era in copies made from originally papyrus-written works. If those original works had not survived, Renaissance learning of classical form may have been lost forever. The concepts learned again over this time—about art, science, philosophy, and humanism—would go on to shape contemporary thought, democracy, education, and innovation. Therefore, papyrus not only helped ancient civilizations survive but also laid the foundations for the Renaissance and modernization of Europe into a modern, knowledge-driven world. Its impacts are felt today in our libraries, schools, governments, and even the digital technology used to pass on and store information.