Year 1000
The period around the year 1000 saw the introduction of cotton into Spain from the Islamic world. With the cotton plant came the technology to make fabric out of cotton fibers. The rags from this fabric, along with linen, were used to make paper. Paper provided an inexpensive way to keep written records. Early European manuscripts were written on more costly vellum, the skin of unborn or newborn calves, sheep or goats.