PARCHMENT IS MADE FROM THE SKINS OF ANIMALS SUCH AS SHEEP, CALVES, OR GOATS. THE SKIN IS DRIED AND TREATED UNTIL IT BECOMES FLAT AND PAPERLIKE.
PARCHMENT IS MUCH STRONGER THAN PAPER. IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE, TOO. THE BEAUTIFUL PRAYER BOOKS AND BIBLES COPIED BY HAND IN THE MIDDLE AGES WERE ON PARCHMENT. PARCHMENT IS RARELY USED TODAY.
PAPER WAS FIRST MADE IN CHINA ALMOST TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO BY USING BARK FROM THE MULBERRY TREE. (TODAY, THE FINEST PAPER IS MADE FROM CLOTH RAGS.) PAPER WAS MADE BY WETTING AND POUNDING THE MATERIAL UNTIL IT SEPARATED INTO FIBERS OR STRANDS. THESE WERE THEN BROKEN DOWN INTO A LIQUIDLIKE SUBSTANCE THAT WAS POURED ONTO A MESH MOLD. AFTER THE SUBSTANCE DRAINED ON THE MOLD, IT COULD BE LIFTED OFF AS A SHEET OF PAPER. IN EUROPE, PAPER WAS INTRODUCED BY THE MOORS OF NORTHERN AFRICA. THE FIRST PAPERMAKING MILL WAS BUILT IN SPAIN AROUND 1150. |