The Path of Paper: New Evidence for the History of an Old Technology

FORMAT: Hosted in-person at Robinson College in Cambridge, live streamed and recorded. TICKETS: Free to attend in-person and via live stream. Registration required. Lecture 1: The Path of Paper: New Evidence for the History of an Old Technology The history of paper is usually told as a story of diffusion from east to west, from ancient China to the medieval Islamic world and Europe. But much of the evidence is still up for grabs, with recent archaeological and archival discoveries complicating received narratives. This lecture draws on manuscript evidence to revisit key moments in paper’s long migration. This first lecture will be followed by a drinks reception and display back at the University Library until 7.30pm. This is the first lecture in the 2026 Sandars Lectures series titled: Flax to Folio: The Global Diffusion of Early Paper and the History of Textiles.