Maps

Bloom, Jonathan M.

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Maps

Jonathan M. Bloom

Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World

Maps

Author

Jonathan M. Bloom

PublisherYale University Press

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-20567

Maps

The Spread of Paper and Papermaking

Detail of West Asia

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Book details

BOOKPaper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World

Jonathan M. Bloom

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00217

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-20564

Like the printing press, typewriter, and computer, paper has been a crucial agent for the dissemination of information. This engaging book presents an important new chapter in paper’s history: how its use in Islamic lands during the Middle Ages influenced almost every aspect of medieval life. Focusing on the spread of paper from the early eighth century, when Muslims in West Asia acquired Chinese knowledge of paper and papermaking, to five centuries later, when they transmitted this knowledge to Christians in Spain and Sicily, the book reveals how paper utterly transformed the passing of knowledge and served as a bridge between cultures.

Jonathan Bloom traces the earliest history of paper—how it was invented in China over 2,000 years ago, how it entered the Islamic lands of West Asia and North Africa, and how it spread to northern Europe. He explores the impact of paper on the development of writing, books, mathematics, music, art, architecture, and even cooking. And he discusses why Europe was so quick to adopt paper from the Islamic lands and why the Islamic lands were so slow to accept printing in return. Together the text and illustrations (of papermaking techniques and the many uses to which paper was put) give new luster and importance to a now-humble material.

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Author

Jonathan M. Bloom

PublisherYale University Press

Print publication date October 2001 (in print)

Print ISBN 9780300089554

EISBN 9780300257731

Illustrations 103

Print Status in print

Publisher (in print)

WorldCat

Google Books

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