BobRingReflections

I’ve had the history of publishing on my list of possible blog topics for a long time.  Previously I’ve written about the history of libraries, the printing press, and human communication - all of which touch on aspects of publishing but don’t tell the whole story.  So, the time has come; this blog will cover the history of book publishing.  I will leave the history of newspaper and magazine publishing for another day. After a short introduction, I will discuss the history of book publishing through five cultural eras:   Ancient Times :  invention of writing, from clay tablets to papyrus scrolls Classical Antiquity :  the first true alphabet, the first codex books on vellum and parchment        Middle Ages : influence of the church and universities, handwritten illuminated manuscripts, first use of paper, first books for ordinary people, and China’s printing precursors Age of Printing :  invention of the printing press, mass production and distribution, the spread of literac