The Triumph of the Codex

The use of the codex expanded along with the growth of Christianity, as it was chosen as the sacred material in which to spread the Word. Other religious entities were somewhat hesitant to switch to the codex initially for this reason. Yet its use continued to spread, and different forms of script emerged, later to include illustrations. The switch from the reed pen to the flexible quill, however, cemented the use of the codex over that of scrolls and tablets, which from then on remained mostly for ceremonial purposes. As the use of the codex expanded, the type of script used in them varied greatly, and was soon regulated by purpose. This then lead to forgeries, since official documents were to be written a certain way. Another common theme in the writing of the codex was unity, as leaders sought to bring people together through literacy and religion. This allowed, eventually, the use of the vernacular, as well as an attempt to punctuate in a more legible way. Eventually, more than religious documents were available in the codex, which was an attempt to preserve culture when threats were eminent.

It is very interesting how punctuation evolves along with the medium in which it is being used. For example, the reading discusses how it was implemented in one way in order to make the work more conducive to being read aloud.

Today, in a culture of immediacy, we tend to shorten what we write. Just as punctuation evolved to suit the codex and the needs of the past, do you think it will evolve again to suit the fast-paced internet culture? Or will we simply separate such forms and be bilingual, in a sense?