Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World

Abstract

BOOKPaper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic WorldJonathan M. Bloom https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00217 Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-20564Copy 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 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.*This eBook is available exclusively on the A&AePortal*AuthorJonathan M. BloomPublisherYale University PressPrint publication date October 2001 (in print)Print ISBN 9780300089554EISBN 9780300257731Copyright© 2001 by Jonathan M. BloomIllustrations 103Print Status in print Publisher (in print) WorldCat Google Books