Paper before print : the history and impact of paper in the Islamic world

Like the printing press, typewriter, and computer, paper has been a crucial agent for the dissemination of information. This engaging book presents an important new chapter in paper's history: how its use in Islamic lands during the Middle Ages influenced almost every aspect of medieval life. Focusing on the spread of paper from the early eighth century, when Muslims in West Asia acquired Chinese knowledge of paper and papermaking, to five centuries later, when they transmitted this knowledge to Christians in Spain and Sicily, the book reveals how paper utterly transformed the passing of knowledge and served as a bridge between cultures. Jonathan Bloom traces the earliest history of paper - how it was invented in China over 2,000 years ago, how it entered the Islamic lands of West Asia and North Africa, and how it spread to northern Europe. He explores the impact of paper on the development of writing, books, mathematics, music, art, architecture, and even cooking. And he discusses why Europe was so quick to adopt paper from the Islamic lands and why the Islamic lands were so slow to accept printing in return. Together the beautifully written text and delightful illustrations of papermaking techniques and the many uses to which paper was put give new lustre and importance to a now-humble material. 00000001.tif.3......Page 1 00000004.tif.3......Page 4 00000007.tif.3......Page 7 00000010.tif.3......Page 10 00000013.tif.3......Page 13 00000016.tif.3......Page 16 00000019.tif.3......Page 19 00000022.tif.3......Page 22 00000025.tif.3......Page 25 00000028.tif.3......Page 28 00000031.tif.3......Page 31 00000034.tif.3......Page 34 00000037.tif.3......Page 37 00000040.tif.3......Page 40 00000043.tif.3......Page 43 00000046.tif.3......Page 46 00000049.tif.3......Page 49 00000052.tif.3......Page 52 00000055.tif.3......Page 55 00000058.tif.3......Page 58 00000061.tif.3......Page 61 00000064.tif.3......Page 64 00000067.tif.3......Page 67 00000070.tif.3......Page 70 00000073.tif.3......Page 73 00000076.tif.3......Page 76 00000079.tif.3......Page 79 00000082.tif.3......Page 82 00000085.tif.3......Page 85 00000088.tif.3......Page 88 00000091.tif.3......Page 91 00000094.tif.3......Page 94 00000097.tif.3......Page 97 00000100.tif.3......Page 100 00000103.tif.3......Page 103 00000106.tif.3......Page 106 00000109.tif.3......Page 109 00000112.tif.3......Page 112 00000115.tif.3......Page 115 00000118.tif.3......Page 118 00000121.tif.3......Page 121 00000124.tif.3......Page 124 00000127.tif.3......Page 127 00000130.tif.3......Page 130 00000133.tif.3......Page 133 00000136.tif.3......Page 136 00000139.tif.3......Page 139 00000142.tif.3......Page 142 00000145.tif.3......Page 145 00000148.tif.3......Page 148 00000151.tif.3......Page 151 00000154.tif.3......Page 154 00000157.tif.3......Page 157 00000160.tif.3......Page 160 00000163.tif.3......Page 163 00000166.tif.3......Page 166 00000169.tif.3......Page 169 00000172.tif.3......Page 172 00000175.tif.3......Page 175 00000178.tif.3......Page 178 00000181.tif.3......Page 181 00000184.tif.3......Page 184 00000187.tif.3......Page 187 00000190.tif.3......Page 190 00000193.tif.3......Page 193 00000196.tif.3......Page 196 00000199.tif.3......Page 199 00000202.tif.3......Page 202 00000205.tif.3......Page 205 00000208.tif.3......Page 208 00000211.tif.3......Page 211 00000214.tif.3......Page 214 00000217.tif.3......Page 217 00000220.tif.3......Page 220 00000223.tif.3......Page 223 00000226.tif.3......Page 226 00000229.tif.3......Page 229 00000232.tif.3......Page 232 00000235.tif.3......Page 235 00000238.tif.3......Page 238 00000241.tif.3......Page 241 00000244.tif.3......Page 244 00000247.tif.3......Page 247 00000250.tif.3......Page 250 00000253.tif.3......Page 253 00000256.tif.3......Page 256 00000259.tif.3......Page 259 00000262.tif.3......Page 262 00000265.tif.3......Page 265 00000268.tif.3......Page 268 00000271.tif.3......Page 271 00000274.tif.3......Page 274 00000277.tif.3......Page 277 00000280.tif.3......Page 280 00000283.tif.3......Page 283 00000286.tif.2......Page 286 "Like the printing press, typewriter, and computer, paper has been a crucial agent for the dissemination of information. This ... book presents an important new chapter in paper's history: how its use in Islamic lands during the Middle Ages influenced almost every aspect of medieval life. Focusing on the spread of paper from the early eighth century, when Muslims in West Asia acquired Chinese knowledge of paper and papermaking, to five centuries later, when they transmitted this knowledge to Christians in Spain and Sicily, the book reveals how paper utterly transformed the passing of knowledge and served as a bridge between cultures. Jonathan Bloom traces the earliest history of paper--how it was invented in China over 2,000 years ago, how it entered the Islamic lands of West Asia and North Africa, and how it spread to northern Europe. He explores the impact of paper on the development of writing, books, mathematics, music, art, architecture, and even cooking. And he discusses why Europe was so quick to adopt paper from the Islamic lands and why the Islamic lands were so slow to accept printing in return"--Publisher's description Annotation This engaging book presents a new chapter in paper's history: how its use in Islamic lands during the Middle Ages influenced almost every aspect of medieval life. The text and illustrations (of papermaking techniques and the many uses to which paper was put) give new luster and importance to a now-humble material. 100+ illustrations Humans have been around for five million years.