German Museum of Books and Writing "Signs - Books - Networks"

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  Modern presentation of the interior of the Library of Alexandria, image taken from a work by Otto von Corvin, 19th century

  Oak Knoll Press / Wikimedia Commons

  circa 280 B.C.

  Tradition holds that Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy II established the first library in Alexandria.
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  Sima Qian writing in a book made from bamboo rods, Chinese 5-yuan coin (cultural series), 1986

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  c. 100 BCE

  Sima Qian lays the foundations for Chinese historical scholarship.
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  Plinius the Elder, copperplate by Pieter van der Borcht, 1603

  Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

  50 CE

  In his work Naturalia Historia Pliny the Elder relays the natural history knowledge of his era.
• 100

  Smoke telegraphy system created in the Roman empire – signals sent over a distance of several kilometres
• 105

  Recording of the invention of paper by Cai Lun (Tsai Lun), an official in the Chinese imperial court
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  Hieronymus in Kardinalstracht, painting by Peter Paul Rubens, around 1625

  Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien / Wikimedia Commons

  393

  Jerome begins publication of his translation of the Old Testament into Latin (Vulgata).
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  Saint Augustine, Cambridge altarpiece by Simone Martini, 1320-1325

  Directmedia Publishing GmbH, Berlin / Wikimedia Commons

  circa 400 CE

  The theologian Augustine of Hippo writes his autobiographical writings, the Confessiones (Confessions).
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  Flavius Cassiodor with a book, illumination from the Gesta Theodorici, Fulda, pre-1176

  Universitätsbibliothek der Universität Leiden

  circa 554

  Roman scholar Cassiodorus establishes the Vivarium monastery.
• 600

  The Chinese print complete pages using the block printing technique (proofs).
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  Alcuin accompanies his pupil Hrabanus Maurus at the handover of his work De laudibus sanctae crucis to Martin of Tours, illumination from the Manuscriptum Fuldense, circa 831/40

  Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Wien / Wikimedia Commons

  782

  Alcuin assumes leadership of Charlemagne’s palace school in Aachen.