History of the Book

Catalog description

HIST 255N studies the global history of the book broadly conceived, from oracle bones to "born digital" materials. The course will examine major developments including the invention of parchment and paper, the prevalence of woodblock printing in East Asia, the influence of printing in early modern Europe, Latin American writing systems, and the rise of the world wide web. Major themes include book-making technologies, the interplay of form and decoration, the social impact of printing, and the social context of reading practices. Students will combine course readings with hands-on experience examining materials in the Penn State Library's Special Collections and the Palmer Museum.