The invention of written language by mankind has become an important step for the development of culture and education. Thanks to the advent of the alphabet, it has become possible to capture information on tangible media and preserve it for generations. The concept of manuscript is associated with the invention of writing. From the article you can find out what it is, what ancient manuscripts have come down to our days and what concepts are associated with the study of this cultural phenomenon.
What is a manuscript?
The word “manuscript” is derived from the words “hand” and “write”. It is a tracing-paper of the Latin term "manuscript". Thus, originally a manuscript is any handwritten work. This usually refers to written monuments made before the advent of typography.
However, in the modern world this concept is broader. Any author's work, even printed on a typewriter or computer, before it is published and takes on its final form, is a manuscript.
For example: "The author submitted his manuscript to the publisher."
History
The first manuscripts were made on stones or metal plates. The letters on them are hollowed out using special tools. Obviously, this recording method was not very convenient.
In Babylon they wrote on clay tablets. The letters were applied using a pointed wand - a stylus.
In ancient Egypt, papyrus was invented. It was made from reed plants.
The next stage in the history of manuscripts was the invention of parchment - a soft material from the skin of animals.
Finally, in ancient China, learned to make paper. It is on this material that the majority of manuscripts in the world are written.
The oldest manuscripts of the world
Examples of the oldest handwritten texts in history:
- The poem of Gilgamesh (Nineveh, VIII-VII centuries BC).
- Book of the Dead (Ancient Egypt, VI - I century BC).
- Sinai Codex (Sinai Peninsula, VI century BC).
- Diamond Sutra (China, 868 A.D.)
- Torah (found in the library of Italy, XI century A.D.).
Manuscript concepts
Several concepts are associated with the study of manuscripts.
For example, paleography is a science that studies ancient manuscripts and the development of writing.
Palimpsest is a type of old manuscript, usually written on parchment. Its peculiarity is that the originally written text on it was erased, and then re-written. This was explained by the high cost of materials for writing.
Vignette is an ornament or decoration of a manuscript, usually at the beginning or end.
Facsimile - the exact reproduction of a manuscript.
Convolutes - a combination of several previously issued separately manuscripts in one edition.
So, a manuscript or manuscript in antiquity - any work, written by hand, in modern times - printed by the author, but not yet published. The first manuscripts were made before our era in connection with the advent of writing.