During the Han Dynasty, which lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE, a significant cultural invention attributed to the Chinese was paper. Traditionally, before the invention of paper, writing surfaces were made from materials like bamboo, silk, or wood, which were either expensive or cumbersome. The innovation of paper, credited to Cai Lun around 105 CE, revolutionized documentation and communication. This lightweight, affordable material facilitated the spread of literature, education, and bureaucracy. The creation of paper had lasting implications on Chinese culture and the world, eventually influencing the development of printing and the spread of knowledge far beyond China’s borders.