Storiascopio · Era 6 of 12 · primary year 5
The book with pages (the codex)
about AD 300 · Roman Empire
In short
For centuries books were papyrus scrolls, sometimes several metres long, that had to be unrolled with both hands. Little by little a new form spread: sheets folded and sewn together, with a cover, called the codex. It made finding a passage easier, both sides of the page could be written on and it took up less space. Christians used it very early on for their holy texts. By around AD 300 the codex, often made of parchment, was overtaking the scroll.
Why it matters The book you hold in your hands today, with pages to turn, comes straight from the codex of ancient times.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Codex”
Where we are in the era “Ancient Rome”
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about 753 BCEvent 23 of 25AD 476
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/the-book-with-pages-the-codex/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class