nibs clay sharp reservoir rotates ink cartridges hollow
Writing first developed in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). There wasn't any paper, so people wrote on blocks of clay with **nibs**.
The English word paper comes from the word papyrus, which was the plant that the Ancient Egyptians used to make paper.
A type of fountain pen was designed for the Caliph of Egypt in 953. He wanted a pen that didn't drop **ink cartridges**.
Pens with **reservoirs** weren't used until the 20th century.
For centuries, a goose feather was the best pen. The centre of the feather is **hollow**, so it has a small **reservoir** to hold the ink.
People had to use knives to keep their quill pens sharp. Metal **nibs** made things easier. They were stronger and lasted longer. Pencil sharpeners were invented in the 19th century. The pencil sharpener **rotates** around the pencil to make it sharp.
