This website is all about books. But have we ever actually talked about where the book comes from? It has an amazing history and we have picked out some of the key parts, going from stone slabs to e-readers.
3500 BC - Symbols on tablets
The first book we have evidence of. It was carved into stone slabs using the alphabet of the time.
2400 BC - Papyrus scrolls
Originated in Egypt, the papyrus is made from the papyrus reed which people discovered you could write more easily on.
500 - 200 BC - Parchment
As parchment is made of calfskin and it was easier to write on than papyrus, people used that.
868 AD - The first printed book
When printing blocks were developed in China, it made the process of book-making a lot easier
1041 - 1230 AD - The first moveable type
When people discovered it would be easier to use individual stamps, they started using those instead.
1639 - 1640 AD - America’s first book
When The first printing press was brought to America to print its first books. When the printing press was introduced, it made printing books easier, cheaper and quicker.
1920-1938 AD - Paperback novels
Until now, the most common types of books had been hardbacks. When people started to realise that paperbacks were much easier to print and took less time, they became more common.
1933 AD - Nazis begin burning books
In order to “control the German history” the Nazi party started to burn books. This cut down the amount of books that were printed.
1955 AD - Books start to be sold online
With the company ‘Amazon’ set up, the book market increased a lot. Originally, ‘Amazon’ sold only books!
2007 AD - Kindle becomes the first e-reader
With technology expanding, ‘Amazon’ makes the first ever e-reader.
All in all, the book has had quite an incredible history!