The very early books on history
The history of books is a fascinating topic that spans thousands of years and different cultures. Some of the very first books on history were not books in the modern sense, but rather tablets, scrolls, and sheets of papyrus that recorded events, stories, and myths. Here are some examples of the earliest historical books.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is often cited as the first great composition in world literature, dating back to around 2100 BCE. It is a Mesopotamian epic poem that tells the story of Gilgamesh, a legendary king of Uruk, and his quest for immortality. The epic was written on clay tablets in cuneiform script and was discovered in the ruins of Nineveh in the 19th century CE.
The Kesh Temple Hymn and The Instructions of Shuruppak are two of the oldest surviving written texts, dating back to around 2600 BCE. They are also from Mesopotamia and were written on clay tablets in cuneiform script. The Kesh Temple Hymn is a praise poem to the temple of Kesh and its patron deity Ninĝirsu, while The Instructions of Shuruppak are a collection of proverbs and moral teachings attributed to a king named Shuruppak.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a collection of spells, prayers, and rituals that were used by ancient Egyptians to help the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. The book was written on papyrus scrolls and was customized for each individual. The oldest known version dates back to around 1550 BCE, but the book was used for over 1500 years until the end of the pharaonic era.
The Iliad and The Odyssey are two epic poems attributed to the Greek poet Homer, who is believed to have lived sometime between the 12th and 8th centuries BCE. The poems recount the events of the Trojan War and its aftermath, focusing on the heroes Achilles and Odysseus. The poems were originally composed orally and transmitted by bards, but were later written down on papyrus scrolls in Greek alphabet.
The Analects are a collection of sayings and teachings attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his disciples, who lived in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. The Analects cover topics such as ethics, politics, education, and human nature. The book was compiled by Confucius’ followers after his death and was written on bamboo strips or silk cloth in Chinese characters.
