The Triumph of the Codex Blog 5/5

Summary

1. Papyrus rolls and wax wooden tablets were the primary materials used for writing. Papyrus rolls were used for formal and scholarly writing, whereas the wax tablets were used for more informal, pragmatic writing. However, as Christianity spread and became popular, the codex earned its respectability. The rise of a new state religion meant that books were no longer cheap objects, but honorable sacred texts. During this time, the papyrus roll was still used to store data, such as financial records, and display contexts, such as genealogical and heraldic rolls
2. During the rise of the Byzantine empire, civilization was urbanized and new networks and intellectual centers rose. This growth fostered the organized copying within the scriptorium (office writing). The roman system of script was developed and its practices were adapted or replaced by individual monastic scriptoria or monastic federations. 
3. In the West, book production had contracted as they were no longer being written by secular scribes, but perpetuated by the Church. As a result, literacy rose as individuals such as the Celts and Germans, converted to Christianity. Even in Spain, early Christian scholarship was within their writings. The Spanish developed a distinctive script which signaled and perpetuated their Christian identity. In Rome, book production increased and began displaying elegant script, featuring symbols such as the cross and fish, and even illustrations.
4. The power of writing was reinforced by the iconic nature of the book in a religious context. Secular rulers began to enlist the support of the Church in penning law codes, charters, and genealogies to legitimize their rule. As a result, scribes began to preserve what they could of classical learning. The scribes used their own knowledge and imagination to produce new works. During the eighth century experiments to produce a more standardized script occurred, which harbored scholars and craftsmen from many different regions.

Comment

Books were one of primary driving forces of the Middle Ages. The codex was the means for conveying thought, establishing power, and recording memory and individual achievement and aspiration. Throughout history, those in power have been able to use the codex and whatever resources at their disposable, to manipulate and structure society as they see fit. It is true when they say that those with knowledge have the power, and throughout history this is most evident. Most interesting, is that this still holds true today. However, the main difference being that today, more people are in control of the information they access and produce.

Question

This makes me think about countries such as China or Russia, where information is not as easily accessible as it is for people living in the West. How will text technologies change in these parts of the world, where they have limited access to information and texts.