What is the oldest book in history?

Question

it is before B.C.

Answer 1

Depends on your definition of book.

The oldest written story is the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Answer 2

It is a simplification to say that the bible is the oldest book. The bible, technically speaking, is not a single book, but a collection of books written at various times by a variety of scribes and prophets spanning over a thousand years, from ~1400BS until ~100 AD. These different books by different people make the bible the foundation of the only faith that cannot trace its source to a single man- there was no single founder.

The first 5 books of the bible- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy were written by Moses, who lived around 1400 B.C. These may not have been the oldest books in history- there could be more obscure works that are primarily of interest to scholars and academics. But for all practical purposes these five works, know collectively as the Pentateuch are the only books of that era of deep antiquity still commonly read in the western world.

As far as the eastern, most books of that era that have survived are also religious. The books of Moses will pre-date all Buddhist works (800 BC??), certainly all Islamic works (~700 AD), and likely any Taoist works (500 BC?) as well.

Answer 3

The world's oldest book in the history of mankind written in Etruscan, the language that is now lost, can be seen in Bulgaria's National Museum of History in Sofia. The rarity consists of 6 pages made of 24-carat gold and fastened together; the pages are covered with text and carry images of a horseman, a mermaid, a lyre and warriors.
The small book which age is over 2.5 thousand years was accidentally discovered 60 years ago in an old tomb with frescoes. The tomb was discovered in the Valley of Bulgarian Struma River during road construction works.

Answer 4

the bible is NOT the oldest 'book'
these ppl appear to be confusing the stories in the bible with the bible itself. There was no bible on Noah's Ark, Moses did not carry a bible with him across the Red Sea and across the desert for 40 years
Generally it is accepted that the Old Testament was written in 1000BC on scrolls , not a book
I had thought the Necronomicon - Egyptian Book of the Dead was the oldest 'book' generally attributed as 1583 BC

Answer 5

The Diamond Sutra bears the date 868 BC found in a cave in north west China.

Answer 6

bible....technically job was written about 5000 BC

Answer 7

The Bible

Answer 8

Bible also the best selling.

Answer 9

I think the bible

Answer 10

the bible