Concept in Definition ABC

Papyri and scrolls were the material support on which books were written in ancient times. Each specimen was presented in the form of a roll, a Format which offered two important limitations: each roll could measure several meters and it was difficult to find concrete references in them. These disadvantages led to the invention of a new way of book, the codex.

It comes from the Latin codex, which means book or volume. On the other hand, the term book comes from the Latin word liber, a word that refers to the bark of trees. This etymology is not strange, since the first leaves where it began to to write it was the palm leaves.

The codices appeared during the first centuries of the Christian era

The pages of a codex were sewn together at one end. To cover it, two systems were used: a cloth decorated with an ornament or simple tables. The early Christians were the ones who started this tradition, presumably to differentiate themselves from the Jewish scholars who continued to use the traditional scrolls.

Gradually the codex was imposed on the scroll and towards the fourth century AD. C its use became widespread. The new format offered obvious advantages: it was easier to handle and sheets of parchment or paper could be written on both sides. The reader consulting a copy of a codex could use one hand to turn the pages and the other to take notes.

Despite the obvious advantages in favor of codices, scrolls continued to be used in some cultural contexts (for example, in rabbinic schools and in the legislative tradition English). We must not forget, on the other hand, that in the theatermedieval the scroll and not the codex continued to be used (the expression English "actor's role" literally means actor's roll and refers to this tradition).

With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, codices were no longer handwritten

During the Middle Ages the production of books was made in an artisanal way. Those who were dedicated to this task were the scribe monks and their work was carried out in the scriptorium of the libraries monastic (the word manuscript literally means handwritten and comes from the Latin word "manum scriptum ").

Four monks normally worked in the elaboration of each codex, as it was a very laborious and specialized activity.

When the first printing presses appeared, some voices were raised against it, since it was feared that the spread of knowledge would lead to heresy and the spread of all kinds of lies. In any case, with the invention of the printing press, printed books replaced codices. The first book to be written with movable type was the Bible.

In the digital age in which we find ourselves, the traditional book competes with the electronic one. Just as codices offered a number of advantages over scrolls, e-books also offer some advantageous qualities: they do not take up space or accumulate dust, they are not lost and are not deteriorate.

Photos: Fotolia - Jokter / Valery Sibrikov