Reading Before Books Were Invented: An Exploration of Pre-literary Times
Before the invention of books as we know them today, reading and writing did not exist in the form we understand it. Instead, information was passed down through oral histories and a communal knowledge shared through generations. This article explores how people read and managed information before books were invented.
Oral Histories: The Foundation of Pre-literary Times
Before the invention of writing, there could be no reading. However, this did not mean that all stories, knowledge, and information were lost. Oral histories were a crucial form of communication, passed down through generations. Young people today, who rely on technology and written materials, often lack the skills to memorize and recall large amounts of information quickly. In the past, people were trained to remember and recite vast amounts of information, as this was the only method of preserving it.
The Emergence of Written Records
The creation of written records marked a significant shift in how information was stored and transmitted. The first written records appeared around the fourth century and were primarily used for the publication of holy texts, such as the Bible. However, before the invention of the printing press, books were not widely available or easily accessible to the general public. Instead, most books were handwritten and belonged to the clergy, such as Catholic priests and Jewish rabbis.
A Year of Study: The Rigor of Pre-literate Education
Before the invention of the printing press, books were scarce and highly valued. This scarcity meant that formal education was reserved for the clergy and other elite members of society. In Jesus' time, scriptures were memorized by those who intended to study them. At the age of three, children began their rudimentary education, and by the age of five, they began more formal schooling.
The young scholars would spend about seven hours a day memorizing biblical texts and psalms. This intense period of study continued for many years, as the nearest books were rare and often inaccessible to the general population. The first five books of the Bible and Psalms were some of the most important texts to memorize, as they formed the foundation of religious knowledge and understanding.
Techniques for Handwritten Books
Without modern printing, books were produced by hand, a process that was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. A book like the Bible could take over a year to complete. However, various techniques were developed to make hand-copied books more legible and quicker to produce. These included the use of spaces between words, punctuation, and different lettering styles like Carolingian minuscule and Black Letter. The invention of paper also facilitated the printing process, making the production of books faster and more efficient.
A Scholar's Life: Accessing and Reading Books
For scholars and priests with a need to access books, the process was often a matter of personal effort and access. While the wider population might not have had the luxury of access to books, those who were educated had the means and opportunity to read and study them. Whether through personal interest or professional necessity, the ability to read and understand the texts was a valuable skill.
Conclusion
While the advent of books and printing presses revolutionized the way information was stored and shared, the pre-literary era was marked by remarkable skills in memory and oral communication. The diligent memorization and recitation of texts were essential not only for religious and scholarly purposes but also for the preservation and transmission of knowledge across generations.