Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman Empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. I

"Books and their Makers during the Middle Ages: A Study of the Conditions of the Production and Distribution of Literature from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the Close of the Seventeenth Century, Vol. I" by George Haven Putnam is a journey through time to analyze the historical and societal influences on creating and sharing literature in the Middle Ages. It highlights the essential work of monasteries and developing universities in safeguarding and spreading ancient writings up to more current times, beginning by looking at the fall of the Roman Empire and its disastrous effects on the world of books. The narrative makes clear how the loss of Roman rule caused disorder in intellectual and literary continuity, but concentrates on how monastic copyists helped maintain older texts by setting up dedicated writing rooms – scriptoria – where writings were copied and shared. It draws attention to specific people, like Cassiodorus and S. Benedict, whose influences are what molded the conservation and the creation of early book production, setting the scene for the printing press and a major shift in literature.