The history of books

Imagine books so costly that only the wealthy could own them. This was reality for most of history. Books were hard to make, so only scholars had them. A German goldsmith changed this. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This machine made books available to everyone.

Writing existed long before books. Ancient people wrote on stone, trees, metal, and bones. Clay tablets were an early writing tool. They were popular in the ancient Near East. People wrote on them with reeds. Tablets could be reused after soaking in water. Baked tablets lasted longer.

Egyptians used papyrus, an early paper. Papyrus came from the papyrus plant. It was rolled into scrolls, like early books. The Egyptian Book of the Dead was written on papyrus. Israelites used parchment scrolls made from animal skin. Scrolls were common until the codex.

The codex was like a modern book. It was a stack of bound sheets. Julius Caesar may have invented it. Christians used codices widely. By the 4th century, codices replaced scrolls in the West. Codices saved space and were easy to handle. They made reading easier.

Modern books resemble codices. Paper and printing presses are the main differences. China invented paper over 2,000 years ago. Early paper was made from mulberry bark. The bark was pounded, mixed with water, and dried. Later, hemp and fishing nets were added.

China kept papermaking secret. In 751 AD, Arabs captured Chinese papermakers. The Islamic world learned to make paper. Paper mills spread across the Middle East by the 8th century. By the 13th century, paper reached Europe through Baghdad. Paper replaced other writing materials.

Gutenberg's printing press was crucial. Before printing, books were copied by hand. This made them rare and expensive. Scribes copied books. Calligraphers made fine books. Illuminators added pictures. Correctors checked the work. Copying took a long time.

Universities in Europe increased the demand for books. A faster printing method was needed. China used wood block printing. This method started before 220 AD. Carved wood blocks were inked and pressed on paper. The Diamond Sutra is an early printed book from 868 AD.

Movable type printing also started in China. Separate character blocks formed words. Neither method reached Europe until paper became common. Gutenberg's press revolutionized printing in 1440. He created a movable type press.

Gutenberg made metal letters from a lead alloy. This worked well for printing and is still used. He used oil-based ink that stuck to metal. The press used a screw and handle to press paper onto the inked type. Two people could print 3,600 pages a day, compared to 40 by hand.

By the late 15th century, presses existed in over 200 European cities. Books became cheaper and more available. Mass communication began. Ideas spread freely. Knowledge was no longer controlled. People could question authority.

Printing presses have improved, but the method remains similar. Modern books use offset printing. This method uses cylinders and aluminum plates. Lasers create the image. Ink is transferred to paper through a rubber cylinder. Digital printing is used for small print runs.

Bookmaking has changed with technology. The book's look has stayed mostly the same since the codex. E-books are different. They need no paper or printing. They are easily shared online and are cheap. Yet, many prefer physical books. Holding a book feels special.