- Clay tablets were used for record-keeping.
- Cuneiform script was developed for writing on these tablets.
- Tablets recorded economic transactions, legal documents, and even literary works.
2. Ancient Egypt (3100-332 BCE):
- Papyrus was the primary writing material.
- Hieroglyphic writing was used.
- Records included religious texts, historical accounts, and administrative documents.
3. Ancient China (1600-1046 BCE):
- Oracle bones and bronze vessels were used for keeping records.
- Oracle bones were inscribed with questions to deities and the responses were interpreted based on the cracks that formed.
- Bronze vessels recorded events and rituals.
4. Ancient India (3300 BCE-500 CE):
- Palm leaves and birch barks were used as writing surfaces.
- Sanskrit and other regional languages were written in various scripts.
- Records included religious texts, medical treatises, and administrative accounts.
5. Ancient Greece and Rome (8th century BCE-4th century CE):
- Papyrus and parchment were widely used.
- Greek and Latin were the prominent languages.
- Records spanned philosophy, literature, history, and governance.
6. Medieval Europe (5th-15th century CE):
- Parchment and vellum became the preferred writing materials.
- Manuscripts illuminated with intricate artwork served as records.
- Records included legal documents, religious texts, and chronicles.
7. Pre-Columbian civilizations (2600 BCE-1521 CE):
- The Maya of Mesoamerica used the Dresden Codex, a book made from bark paper, to document astronomical observations, calendars, and religious rituals.
- The Inca of South America relied on a system called quipu, using colored strings and knots to record numeric data.
8. Modern Era (15th century onwards):
- The printing press revolutionized record-keeping.
- Paper gradually replaced parchment and vellum as the primary writing surface.
- Digital technology brought about electronic record-keeping and the development of databases and software for managing information.
As societies developed, more sophisticated systems of record-keeping evolved, including the use of ledgers, journals, and specialized documentation for different fields. In the modern world, digital record-keeping has become increasingly prevalent, enabling efficient storage, retrieval, and sharing of information.