Before paper books were written on leaves?

Question

Answer

Before Paper Books Were Written on Leaves

Books have been around for thousands of years, but before paper was invented, people used other materials to write on, including leaves. Here's a closer look at some of the materials used for writing before paper:

Clay Tablets

One of the earliest forms of writing was done on clay tablets. These were made by pressing a pointed stick or stylus into a wet clay tablet, leaving behind wedge-shaped marks. The clay was then baked or left to dry in the sun, creating a long-lasting record of the writing.

Papyrus

Papyrus was a plant that grew in the Nile Delta in ancient Egypt. The stem of the plant was cut into thin strips, which were then soaked in water and laid out in a criss-cross pattern. The strips were then pressed together and dried, creating a durable writing surface.

Animal Skins

In some cultures, animal skins were used for writing. The skins were cleaned, stretched, and dried, creating a parchment-like material that could be written on with ink. This was a popular material for manuscripts in medieval Europe.

Bamboo

In China, bamboo was used for writing. The bamboo was cut into thin strips, which were then joined together with silk or cotton threads to create a scroll. The writing was done with a brush and ink, and the scroll could be rolled up for storage.

Leaves

Leaves were also used for writing in some cultures. In India, for example, palm leaves were used for writing. The leaves were dried, cut into strips, and then bound together with thread to create a book. The writing was done with a stylus, and the leaves could be erased and reused.

While these materials were all effective for writing, they had their limitations. Clay tablets were heavy and bulky, papyrus was fragile and prone to decay, animal skins were expensive and time-consuming to prepare, and bamboo was not widely available outside of China. It wasn't until the invention of paper in China in the 2nd century BCE that a truly lightweight, durable, and affordable writing material became widely available.

Answer

Manuscript

Top Courses for Class 6View all

Science Class 6

Mathematics (Maths) Class 6

Social Studies (SST) Class 6

English Grammar for Class 6

Improve Your Calculations: Vedic Maths (English)

Top Courses for Class 6

Top Courses for Class 6

Suggested Free Tests

Related Content

Class 6 Study Material

Class 6 Subjects

Competitive Examinations for Class 6

NCERT Books

NCERT Solutions

Reference Books for Class 6

Other Popular Exams

Company