The Battle of Talas in 751 CE saw Abbasid forces defeat the Tang Dynasty army near the Talas River in Central Asia, halting Chinese westward expansion and establishing Muslim dominance in the region. Significantly, Chinese prisoners transmitted papermaking technology to the Islamic world, which then spread it to Europe. This battle marked the limit of direct Chinese military influence in Central Asia while facilitating crucial technological transfer.

Papermaking's spread through the Islamic world dramatically reduced book production costs, enabling wider circulation of poetry and prose. The availability of paper facilitated the compilation of large poetry anthologies and the preservation of oral traditions in written form. This technological shift supported the flourishing of Arabic and Persian literary cultures during the Islamic Golden Age, making poetry more accessible beyond court circles and contributing to literacy growth.