Lecture 2

Contributions of the Greeks

DemocracyOlympic GamesHippocratic OathPhilosophy (Aristotle, Socrates, Plato)Architecture (Corinthian, Doric, Ionic Columns)Theatre Styles (drama, comedy, tragedy)Literary Classics (The Iliad, The Odyssey)SculpturePotteryLibraries

Advantages of Codex

• Easier to look up information, no rolling and unrolling

• Easier to carry (smaller)

• More durable

• Could write on both sides of the parchment saving storage

and material

• Space and material costs were less

Codex Appeal to Early Christians

• Christians felt their writing was sacred

• Codex had study advantages

• Christians wanted to separate themselves from the Pagans

Roman Contributions to Writing

Addition of Y and Z

Addition of Serifs

Introduction of Parchment

Introduction of the Codex

Roman Contributions to Western Civilization

Roads

Plumbing

Aqueducts

Art

Literature

The Census

Roman Calendar

Latin

Engineering

Justinian Code

Roman Contributions to Western Civilization

Roads

Plumbing

Aqueducts

Art

Literature

The Census

Roman Calendar

Latin

Engineering

Justinian Code

Scrittori

copisti

Irish Contributions to Writing

• Half Uncials also called miuscules

• Spaces between words

• Developed new script called Insular script

• Visibly improved graphics of manuscript and readability

• Ascenders and descenders began appearing