Already in the old times, the methods of tapping the rubber tree and processes for making crude articles from latex had been developed. Primitive technology for obtaining latex had been used nearly three and a half centuries after the discovery of rubber in the West. Once technical improvement of rubber tapping took place, the use of rubber increased; but the overall consumption of rubber was not greatly changed during that time. The merged civilization of the East and the West made their first big joint contribution to rubber technology when vulcanization was discovered in 1839. .
