The Pharaoh's Treasure

The Origin of Paper and the Rise of Western Civilization

by John Gaudet

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Pub Date Oct 02 2018 | Archive Date Dec 05 2018

History | Nonfiction (Adult)

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Description

For our entire history, humans have always searched for new ways to share information. This innate compulsion led to the origin of writing on the rock walls of caves and coffin lids or carving on tablets. But it was with the advent of papyrus paper when the ability to record and transmit information exploded, allowing for an exchanging of ideas from the banks of the Nile throughout the Mediterranean—and the civilized world—for the first time in human history. In The Pharaoh’s Treasure, John Gaudet looks at this pivotal transition to papyrus paper, which would become the most commonly used information medium in the world for more than 4,000 years. Far from fragile, papyrus paper is an especially durable writing surface; papyrus books and documents in ancient and medieval times had a usable life of hundreds of years, and this durability has allowed items like the famous Nag Hammadi codices from the third and fourth century to survive. The story of this material that was prized by both scholars and kings reveals how papyrus paper is more than a relic of our ancient past, but a key to understanding how ideas and information shaped humanity in the ancient and early modern world.

For our entire history, humans have always searched for new ways to share information. This innate compulsion led to the origin of writing on the rock walls of caves and coffin lids or carving on...

Advance Praise

“A lively overview of a medium that was central to public and private life in the ancient world... An engaging journey to the distant past.” Kirkus, 2018.

"Gaudet has written a delightfully interesting and informative book that covers everything papyrus in terms of paper. He covers topics such as the ancient locations of papyrus; it's various uses; the invention and evolution of papyrus paper; the business of manufacture and distribution of papyrus sheets from Egypt, across the Mediterranean region and beyond; and it's eventual eclipse by rag paper. The numerous historical stories about archaeological discoveries and daring "rescue" attempts are well told and make this book something other than a dry rendition of the evolution of the papyrus scroll..." Goodreads History-of-Things Elentarri, Oct.218

“A lively overview of a medium that was central to public and private life in the ancient world... An engaging journey to the distant past.” Kirkus, 2018.

"Gaudet has written a delightfully...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781681778532
PRICE	$27.95 (USD)

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Featured Reviews

Reviewer 238609

I love books that have any relation to books, even if it's a history of papyrus as without it we wouldn't have books. This was a very informative book.

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Adriana B, Reviewer

It is a great historical book about the importance of paper. I, a book lover, found this story very interesting.
Thank you Netgalley for this nice read.

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catherine h, Reviewer

History of paper! Perfect for a book lover like myself. I remember learning about the history in maybe 6th grade, then it was repeated in various art classes, then later college courses, but to own a book on the history is too marvelous! What I have always found funny (and really sad) was that so many libraries disposed of their magazine and newspaper collections way back in the 60's and 70's, only to find the film replacements not lasting as long and all those newspapers, on the market, still holding their own. I have books from the 18th century that are still holding well. Paper trumps every device I know of! Wonderfully written and researched.

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Rebecca H, Reviewer

I have always been fascinated by anything to do with Ancient Egypt, and this book was no exception! I enjoyed learning more about an aspect I knew little about, but that was so vital to their history and the knowledge that we have today!