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| | History of books:
Ancient times
Oral communication is the oldest method of transfer of knowledge in history of human being. After invention of writing system by old civilization people, people started using almost all where it is possible for writing letters like clay plates, wooden bark, sheets of metal etc.
Rolls
Cigarette paper (type of paper made from stems of flimsy tree) was used in ancient Egypt for writing from the time of First Dynasty. However first evidence is accounts book of King Neferirkare Kakiya of fifth Dynasty (approximately 2400 BC). For convenience, some papers of flimsy were glued in to rolls. This tradition has become very famous in Ellinsk and Roman world, though there are evidences for usage of wooden barks and other materials. According to Gerodotu (History 5:58), Phoenicians have brought written language and flimsy to Greece about 10th or 9th century of BC. “Biblion” has become Greece word for flimsy as materials for making notes, and “Biblos” for a book from the name of Phoenician port city through which flimsy was exported to Greece.
Generally wax nameplates were used in schools, accounting and for making notes. They had an advantage of multiple usage: wax can be melted and new text can be applied again. Linking of such nameplates possibly was a predecessor of modern books.
Ancient manuscripts
Flimsy rolls were used even in first century of AD, when ancient manuscripts have appeared. Gradually people have started using them more frequently; first record of manuscripts as variety of books can be related to end of first century when Martial in his Apophoreta CLXXXIV praises their compactness. In pagan world, manuscript could not get recognition and with Christianity only it becomes popular and widely spread.
Initially manuscript was used for maintaining the accounts, but with development of parching in third century of AD gradually started eliminating the flimsy. This happened already in Christian world. Reasons for accepting the manuscripts as basic types of books are different: it is economical, as it can be used on both sides of sheet; it can be hidden easily; it was convenient and accessible. Possibly, Christian authors used manuscripts purposefully so that they are not similar to pagan texts, which were generally written in the form of rolls.
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