Books
The evolution of books Writing is a form of expressing language by use of symbols which allow one to put across and conserve information. Phonetic writing is believed to have been developed at the beginning of the Bronze Age (4th Millennium B.C). However, the earliest writing system emerged from the Sumerian archaic cuneiform script and the Egyptian hieroglyphs at around 3400BC-3200BC with the earliest consistent text from about 2600BC.
The oldest literary work to have been passed on to the modern man dates back to the third millennium BC, about a full millennium after writing was invented.
The early alphabets
At around 1800BC, the first complete alphabet was developed in ancient Egypt by the Semitic workers. These early alphabets remained of limited importance for several centuries. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, the Proto-Sinaitic script did split into the Proto-Canaanite alphabet, Byblos syllabary and the South Arabian alphabet. The Shang Dynasty of China had several writings done on bones and bronze. These writings are a direct ancestor of modern day Chinese characters in use through East Asia.
In the Western Hemisphere, a stone slab with 3000-year-old writing was discovered in Veracruz, Mexico. This is an example of the oldest script in the Western world preceding the oldest Zapotec writing dating to about 500BC.
The Romans, formerly the Latin tribe, lived in the Italian peninsula and adopted writing at around the 5th Century BC.
Roman letters were then adopted by the Anglo-Saxons when writing old English as they converted to Christianity.
Modern writing
The nature of writing is consistently evolving thanks to advancements in technology. The development of pen, paper, printing machine and computer are all technological advancements which have changed what is written and the output medium. The development of digital technology has resulted into characters being created at the press of a button rather than making manual inscription by hand.
The Origin of books
Man's first record of written work was done by hand on animal skins, papyrus, wood, stone and cloth. Because there was usually one copy, information was limited both in terms of access as well as the language to which the text was written.
Block printing later replaced hand writing. Wooden blocks were caved with text, inked and a piece of paper pressed against the block. The greatest challenge with this concept was the finite nature of block printing which made the message unchangeable once caved on the block.
At around 1440, Guttenberg invented a printing press. This invention significantly expanded access to information by allowing mass production of copies.
The World's oldest book
The Diamond Sutra, a Budhist holy text, bears the date 868AD. This makes it the world's recorded oldest book. It is made up of a scroll of grey paper printed with Chinese characters and encompassed on a wooden pole. It was discovered in North West China in 1907.The Diamond Sutra is currently on display at the British library in London.
The World's most expensive book
In 2006, "First Folio" by William Shakespeare was sold at an auction for a record 5.1 million US dollars. The book was originally published in 1623, seven years after Shakespear's death. 750 copies were released in the original printing at a price of 20 shillings per copy.
The oldest literary work to have been passed on to the modern man dates back to the third millennium BC, about a full millennium after writing was invented.
The early alphabets
At around 1800BC, the first complete alphabet was developed in ancient Egypt by the Semitic workers. These early alphabets remained of limited importance for several centuries. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, the Proto-Sinaitic script did split into the Proto-Canaanite alphabet, Byblos syllabary and the South Arabian alphabet. The Shang Dynasty of China had several writings done on bones and bronze. These writings are a direct ancestor of modern day Chinese characters in use through East Asia.
In the Western Hemisphere, a stone slab with 3000-year-old writing was discovered in Veracruz, Mexico. This is an example of the oldest script in the Western world preceding the oldest Zapotec writing dating to about 500BC.
The Romans, formerly the Latin tribe, lived in the Italian peninsula and adopted writing at around the 5th Century BC.
Roman letters were then adopted by the Anglo-Saxons when writing old English as they converted to Christianity.
Modern writing
The nature of writing is consistently evolving thanks to advancements in technology. The development of pen, paper, printing machine and computer are all technological advancements which have changed what is written and the output medium. The development of digital technology has resulted into characters being created at the press of a button rather than making manual inscription by hand.
The Origin of books
Man's first record of written work was done by hand on animal skins, papyrus, wood, stone and cloth. Because there was usually one copy, information was limited both in terms of access as well as the language to which the text was written.
Block printing later replaced hand writing. Wooden blocks were caved with text, inked and a piece of paper pressed against the block. The greatest challenge with this concept was the finite nature of block printing which made the message unchangeable once caved on the block.
At around 1440, Guttenberg invented a printing press. This invention significantly expanded access to information by allowing mass production of copies.
The World's oldest book
The Diamond Sutra, a Budhist holy text, bears the date 868AD. This makes it the world's recorded oldest book. It is made up of a scroll of grey paper printed with Chinese characters and encompassed on a wooden pole. It was discovered in North West China in 1907.The Diamond Sutra is currently on display at the British library in London.
The World's most expensive book
In 2006, "First Folio" by William Shakespeare was sold at an auction for a record 5.1 million US dollars. The book was originally published in 1623, seven years after Shakespear's death. 750 copies were released in the original printing at a price of 20 shillings per copy.