When did we go from scrolls to books, as we know them?

Answer 1

From scrolls to books is probably best described as a three-step process. First some people wised up and cut what had been or otherwise would have been a scroll into a book, called a codex (as in Leningrad Codex). If you have ever seen someone have to roll a scroll to the proper place in a synagogue, you can appreciate the convenience. Normally a scroll in a synagogue is rolled to the correct starting point before the service starts, otherwise watching someone going from Genesis to Deuteronomy in a scroll puts half the congregation to sleep. It is a lot easier to flip to page ___ in a book. Secondly, printing could be done with blocks, but each page would be unique, and how do you change line 3 after you carved the block? See "incunabulum". The two things that really got the ball rolling (or should we say the presses rolling) were movable type and cheaper paper. Gutenberg was one of the earliest to use movable type in the West, his Bible was printed starting in 1455 (fifteenth century). According to Wikipedia, cheap manufactured paper did not come into use in the West until the 1800's (19th century).

Answer 2

It's not so much scrolls to books...its from the hand written manuscripts to the books. When Guttenberg invented the press sometime in the 1400-1500's. PEACE!

Answer 3

We went to books (the word bible comes from greek for book) late in antiquity. The codices (plural form of codex) were easier to carry and hide. This was important for early Christians because they were being persecuted.

Answer 4

I think the printing press was invented in 1600 something, which was the seventeenth century