the historical paper trail.

This article discusses the history of paper. Paper originated in China in 105 A.D., though in 3500 B.C., Egyptians used a similar material called papyrus. Prior to the industrial revolution, paper was made by hand, but this was soon transformed from a labor intensive process into a mechanized industry ready for global mass production. As of 2005, the paper industry continues to grow, with industrialized nations accounting for about 87 percent of the world's paper output. It is said that paper is set to grow at a rate of 2.4 percent every year. INSET: Making paper.