The 16th century B.C. is the first noted date of hemp usage. The ancient Egyptians used the crop to make ropes and cosmetics. In the 5th century B.C., Herodotus described the use of hemp by the ancient Greeks, who converted it in textiles with high quality standards. The Chinese improved the growth-, harvest- and processing techniques of hemp. In the 9th century hemp was also used in Europe to make ropes and textiles. In the following ages, the hemp seeds and oils were widely spread throughout Europe to cure skin- and respiratory diseases, yellow fever and colics. In the 15th century hemp was introduced in the American colonies. After that time much of the paper and clothing in colonial America was made from hemp, with the textiles being recycled into “rag paper”, known to this day as one of the strongest and most long-lasting papers in the world. During colonial hemp shortages it was a punishable offence for landowners (sometimes by death) for refusing to grow hemp. While hemp has been used thousands of years for spiritual, medical, nutritional and industrial purposes, it was also partially responsible for enabling European imperialism in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Most of the seagoing nations would never have been as successful without the strong fibres with which to craft 90% of sails, plus ropes, rigging, and even the ‘oakum’ that sealed cracks in the boats watertight. In basic terms, if it wasn’t made of wood on a ship, it was made of hemp! Hemp rope and sails were incredibly strong and resisted the salt water damage and mould that were among the common wear and tear experienced in the nautical industry. In the 18th century, as a result of upcoming slavery, cotton became available everywhere and by the 20th century, cotton banned hemp in the textile industry and wood replaced hemp in the making of paper. Hemp was totally banned from the western market. It became a too big concurrent for wood industry (hemp produces 4 x more raw fibre than the same area wood...and can be harvested after 4 months <-> wood) In WWI, hemp was shortly promoted by the American government. Since the 90’s the demand in ecological and ethical products increased enormously. That’s when hemp got rediscovered! Although people these days still encounter hemp in the form of clothes, shoes, tents, twine, and nautical equipment, the availability of and dependence upon hemp is nothing compared to a few hundred years ago.
Hemp is one of the oldest and most versatile crops in the world. It’s the non-psychoactive version of the Cannabis Sativa L., containing less than 0,3% THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive ingredient. Since Ancient History, hemp seeds, stalks and flowers have been used for nutritious, medical, spiritual and industrial purposes. The seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids (including gamma linoleic acid (GLA), a very rare nutrient, also found in mother's milk) and vitamin E. The fibres from the stalks boast an unusually high tensile strength, leading to incredibly high-quality, durable and wearable clothing items. Hemp fibre is one of the softest and most durable fibres produced by any natural product.
Hemp was first cultivated by the Chinese in the 2nd century A.C.. At that time, the fibres where used for paper and textile and the seeds for food and in medicines.
Even flags, uniforms and fishing nets were fashioned from the fibre, and all these were above decks. Below, ships’ logs, maps, charts and bibles were printed on hemp paper as it was up to 100 times stronger than traditional papyrus preparations, and many of the lamps that lighted the dark evenings were dependent on hemp oil fuel. In fact, prior to 1883 between 75% and 90% of everything made of or printed on paper was from hemp, and before petrochemical companies most paints, oils, varnishes, and even glues and adhesives were manufactured from hemp.
Underneath you see to the propaganda movie "hemp for victory"