Paper Before Print

By Jonathan M. Bloom,

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

Book description

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…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Paper Before Print as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Bloom’s book, available in hardcover at a reasonable price, but not on Kindle, is a work of art. 

His intention is obviously to cover the period between 105 AD when pulp paper was first made and the 1000s AD when the Islamic papermakers saw their improved paper taken over by medieval Italian mills where it was improved further into the type of paper that could be used by Gutenberg in the 1450s. 

This period of over a thousand years saw profound changes, during which the papyrus paper and parchment that still ruled the Kingdom of Paper was gradually replaced. Bloom…

From John's list on the history of paper.

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