Libraries in the Ancient World

Fascinating popular history of libraries from their beginnings in the ancient Near East to the Byzantine period with monastic and secular libraries. A fun quick read: from cuneiform tablets through scrolls to codices.

Me, resist a book with a title like this? Especially when it's on sale? Ha.

Casson's account of where, when, how and why libraries began is eminently readable, as well as informative. It's amazing how much we can determine from sparse literary references coupled with the archaeological record. We know that cuneiform tablets had colophons and how those tablets were stored. We learn that some form of cataloguing was used as early as 2000 B.C.E. And you're not the only one who reads in the bath: the public baths of Rome were also public libraries.

Illustrated with photographs and diagrams.

Classics scholar Lionel Casson uses references in classical literature, archaeological remains, and ancient inscriptions to construct a history of the world's earliest libraries. Casson describes libraries in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, in the Greek world, and in the Roman world. The earliest libraries seem to have been utilitarian, with collections consisting mainly of administrative records, along with a few religious texts.

For the most part, the text is interesting and readable. While the content is useful to subject specialists, it's written at a level that non-specialists can understand and appreciate. The black and white illustrations nicely complement the text. However, I struggled through the descriptions of the dimensions of show more the buildings based on the archaeological remains. I'm spatially challenged anyway, and it didn't help that the measurements were given in meters rather than yards. Comparisons to familiar buildings of approximately the same size would have been a help to me.

This seems to be the definitive work on ancient libraries, and it should be the starting point for readers with an interest in this topic. show less

I used this book heavily in writing my PhD thesis and its has the virtue of being the most recent comprehensive text on ancient libraries available. As an academic text it leaves a lot to be desired. Its casual style and lack of effective footnotes make it a frustrating read for anyone who's hoping to use it in their studies. However, as a book for the non-academic reader, its an excellent introduction to the subject of libraries in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Those who know little beyond the Library of Alexandria will be amazed by the sophistication of ancient libraries. Anyone who loves books and libraries, and anyone who's passionate about ancient history will find this enthralling

A concise survey of the history of libraries from Egypt, to Greece and to Rome, from roll to codex. Casson is storng on his discussion of the fate of Alexandria, showing some evidence of this library still active until possibl AD 300. I also found enlightening his discussion of what happened to the heirs on the death of Alexander the Great. Not a lot detail, for example, of the different Greek philosopher libraries, but, overall, definitely worth reading.

Libraries from the beginnings of writing in Mesopotamia down to the time of Isidore of Seville (late 6th/early 7th centuries AD).

Interesting information and yet somehow it feels a bit flimsy.

A concise (150 pages) overview of the history of libraries from the earliest times through Greek, Hellenistic and Roman eras. This is a straightforward analysis which will appeal more to common readers then those with a particular expertise.

I found this book highly readable, containing enough information to inform as to the subject material without going into unnecessary to detaul. Highly recommended for those with an interest in this subject.