The history of the book starts with writing. If there is not writing, there cannot possibly be books. Humans have been writing since the ancient civilizations. There have been many types of writing.
There have also been different types of books. They obviously didn’t have books as we think of them now a-days.
When we think of a book we think of pages, paper or we think of the new technology, e-books.
There were different types of books in ancient times. They were made of different materials, clay, wood, papyrus.
The concept of a book starts with the simple act of wanting to record something and being able to carry it to another place.
What is the beginning of the book? Well, it starts with the first type of writing.
Where does the writing begin?
Starts with the ancient civilizations. With the need of transmitting a message, a thought, an action. How can they pass on what they want to say if it´s not speaking? Only one way, they had to write it down.
Many people think it started with the Egyptians, with the hieroglyphics that they carved into the stones, or with the papyrus they left behind. But it started a bit earlier than that. The writing began with the Sumerians.
When did it all start?
The Mesopotamian book appears in fourth millennia B.C.
At the beginning there was a type of writing similar to pictograms, later on evolve to be simplified and abstract.
The most important book. It’s the Poem of Gilgamesh twenty first century B.C. Such a long time ago. It’s incredible to think that they already wrote and have books even if there weren’t as we think of them.
What were the first books made of?
They generally used square or rectangle shaped clay tablets to write on.
Sumerians invented a way of writing called cuneiform. It’s easy to recognise because of its wedge-shaped marks. This type of writing was used by many cultures, Acadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. They wrote about legal and religious matters, commercial activities and about their daily lives.
They didn’t use it for literature or entertainment like we do now. There were a few that knew how to write or read.
Sumerians also had libraries where they kept all the clay tablets. They were kept in wicker baskets to protect them. They were organised on shelves.
Ashurbanipal’s library is one of the most important ones from the seventh century B.C.
I bet that with this bit of information you won’t look at books the same way you did before.
Comments