When there are writing system invented in the ancient civilizations, almost all the content such as symbols, words even picture were written on stones, clay, barks, or metal sheets. Before the invention of the printing press, almost all books are copied by hand, which makes books expensive and rare.
In the ancient age of the world, alphabetic writing emerged in Egypt about 5,000 years ago. At first, the words aren't separated and there is no punctuation. Gradually, this type of font had evolved into the font we are using now. There are also a lot of types of writing such as tablet, scroll and codex.
Cuneiform script clay tablet
Papyrus, a thick paper-like material resemble the characteristic of scroll
A Chinese bamboo book meets the modern definition of Codex
In the middle ages such as in Western Roman Empire, all the
monasteries that produced books was usually located at chapter house. There are 5 types of scribes:
1. Calligraphers, who dealt in fine book production
2. Copyists, who dealt with basic production and correspondence
3. Correctors, who collated and compared a finished book with a manuscript from which it had been produced
4. Illuminators, who painted illustrations
5. Rubricators, who painted in the red letters
A scribe is now copying the contents from manuscript
Arab painting technique which well-spread in Asia Islamic world also contributed to the evolution of books. This technique helps enhancing Arabic calligraphy, miniature and bookbinding.There are also some books-producing technique which emerged in the middle ages. For example,
wood block printing from China and
Movable type and Incunabula from Europe.
'Selected Teachings of Buddhist Sages and Son Masters', the earliest
known book printed with movable metal type, 1377
Now,
steam-powered printing has become the major trend of bookbinding profession. These machine could print 1,100 sheets per hour, which is more efficient then the traditional way.
Modern books
