Round-table for October 25 & November 1, 2016
In order to become aware of global developments in early writing in a short period of time, we are going to share the work. Small groups of students will introduce a geographical area and its interpretation and use of writing to the class.

The basic readings are all in our Companion to the History of the Book, but should be supplemented by readings from The Oxford Companion to the Book (on hold at the library. See titles below). Other sources such as images, examples, etc. are also welcome, as your challenge is to make early writing come alive for your classmates. Think of yourselves as TAs for the day.

Please choose one and email me (domino@yorku.ca) as they will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. I will post them here as they come in.

Each group may have up to three participants, but you may be asked to move to a group that has only two.

For more information, see group presentation guidelines.

The articles and topics will be presented in the following order, over two classes.
1) “The Clay Tablet Book in Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia” (67-83)
Participants: Sharmila, Carlyn and Jillian
2) “The Papyrus Roll in Egypt, Greece, and Rome” (84-94)
Participants: Janae, Juan and Serena
3) “China” (97-110)
Participants: James, Chanee and Alana
4) “Japan, Korea, and Vietnam” (111-125)
Participants: Amber, Julie and Kelsie
5) “South Asia” (126-137)
Participants: Simran, Olivia, Carolina
6) “Latin America” (138-152)
Participants: Eilish, Mary and Michael
7) “The Hebraic Book” (153-164)
Participants: Julia, Marti and Donna
8) “The Islamic Book” (165-176)
Participants: Cole, Luke and Elijah

The following articles can be found in The Oxford Companion to the Book. Z40946 2010. VOL. 1. All of them have also been reprinted in The Book: A Global History, Z4B644 2013, which is on reserve at the library desk. I also have a copy.

Edgren, J. S. “The History of the Book in China”  353-365.
Gupta, Abhijit. “The History of the Book in the Indian Subcontinent.”553-572.
Kallendorf, Craig. “The Ancient Book.” 23-33 (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hebrew, Greece, China, Mesoamerica)
Kornicki, P.F. “The History of the Book in Japan.” 375-385.
McKillop, Beth. “The History of the Book in Korea”. 366-374.
Robinson, Andrew. “Writing Systems”. 1-10. (Chinese & Japanese)
Roldan Vera, Eugenia. “The History of the Book in Latin America (including Incas, Aztecs and the Caribbean).” 408-417.
Roper, Geoffrey. “The History of the Book in the Muslim World.” 321-339.

Also see:
Any website that gives the credentials of its author, who must be a scholar, and who must have included references and a bibliography in her/his text.