When were newspaper first printed?

While it's difficult to pinpoint an exact date for the very first newspaper, the earliest known printed newspapers appeared in China during the Tang Dynasty, around the year 700 AD.

These "newspapers" were hand-copied, printed on woodblocks, and distributed to officials and the wealthy.

However, it's important to note that:

* The concept of news dissemination existed long before printing. News was shared through word-of-mouth, public criers, and handwritten manuscripts in various civilizations throughout history.

* The term "newspaper" as we know it today emerged much later. The first regularly published newspapers with a more modern format appeared in Europe in the 17th century.

Therefore, while the origins of printed news can be traced to China in the 7th century, the evolution of the newspaper as a recognizable and widespread form of media took centuries to develop.