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. Cover ......Page 1 Title page......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 The Spread of Paper and Papermaking......Page 15 INTRODUCTION......Page 18 1. THE INVENTION OF PAPER......Page 34 CLAY TABLETS AND PAPYRUS ROLLS......Page 35 WOODEN TABLETS AND PARCHMENT CODICES......Page 39 BAMBOO STRIPS AND SILK CLOTH......Page 46 THE INVENTION OF PAPER......Page 49 THE DIFFUSION OF PAPER......Page 55 THE INTRODUCTION OF PAPER IN THE ISLAMIC LANDS......Page 59 Iraq ......Page 64 Syria ......Page 73 Iran and Central Asia ......Page 78 Egypt ......Page 91 The Maghrib (North Africa and Spain)......Page 102 3. PAPER AND BOOKS ......Page 108 The Koran and oral culture......Page 111 Written Arabic ......Page 116 An Explosion of Books......Page 127 Collections and Libraries ......Page 133 A Culture of Writing......Page 139 Mathematics ......Page 142 Commerce......Page 152 Cartography......Page 158 Music, Genealogy, and Battle Plans......Page 171 5. PAPER AND THE VISUAL ARTS......Page 178 Before the Thirteenth Century......Page 179 From the Thirteenth Century......Page 195 6. THE TRANSFER OF PAPER AND PAPERMAKING TO CHRISTIAN EUROPE......Page 220 Byzantium......Page 221 Spain......Page 223 Italy......Page 226 Europe North of the Alps......Page 229 7. PAPER AFTER PRINT......Page 232 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY......Page 244 WORKS CITED......Page 266 INDEX ......Page 280 PHOTO CREDITS......Page 287 "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 Cover 1 Title page 4 Contents 8 Preface 10 The Spread of Paper and Papermaking 15 INTRODUCTION 18 1. THE INVENTION OF PAPER 34 CLAY TABLETS AND PAPYRUS ROLLS 35 WOODEN TABLETS AND PARCHMENT CODICES 39 BAMBOO STRIPS AND SILK CLOTH 46 THE INVENTION OF PAPER 49 THE DIFFUSION OF PAPER 55 THE INTRODUCTION OF PAPER IN THE ISLAMIC LANDS 59 2. THE SPREAD OF PAPERMAKINGACROSS THE ISLAMIC LANDS 64 Iraq 64 Syria 73 Iran and Central Asia 78 Egypt 91 The Maghrib (North Africa and Spain) 102 3. PAPER AND BOOKS 108 The Koran and oral culture 111 Written Arabic 116 An Explosion of Books 127 Collections and Libraries 133 A Culture of Writing 139 4. PAPER AND SYSTEMS OF NOTATION 142 Mathematics 142 Commerce 152 Cartography 158 Music, Genealogy, and Battle Plans 171 5. PAPER AND THE VISUAL ARTS 178 Before the Thirteenth Century 179 From the Thirteenth Century 195 6. THE TRANSFER OF PAPER AND PAPERMAKING TO CHRISTIAN EUROPE 220 Byzantium 221 Spain 223 Italy 226 Europe North of the Alps 229 7. PAPER AFTER PRINT 232 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY 244 WORKS CITED 266 INDEX 280 PHOTO CREDITS 287 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.