The Scriptorium

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THE SCRIPTORIUM

In the days before the printing press, copies of books had to be created by hand. To assist in this endeavor, scriptoria (copying rooms) were established. These rooms were often cold and ill-lit, as heat and artificial light from candles were perceived to be fire hazards. In some scriptoria, someone would read the text aloud while others copied it. In monastic scriptoria, monks worked alone.

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