The Legacy of Ancient Libraries to the Middle Ages: The Library of Alexandria and the Origin of Knowledge Brief Description Sponsored by SIG-LIB

Description

Libraries have been the guardians and carriers of humanity's wealth of knowledge throughout the ages. Even though history’s oldest and largest libraries were burned or destroyed, they contributed to the progress of various civilizations for centuries. The foundations of modern science were laid on the road to the beginning of writing and communication. The ancient period refers to the period between 3200 BCE when writing was found, and 395 CE when the Roman Empire collapsed. Libraries, with competing examples in different geographies of the world, in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, Ancient China and Ancient India, continue to inspire the construction of new libraries today, as they did in the Middle Ages. The history of Egypt and Mesopotamia bears witness to the best examples of institutions such as libraries/archives, museums, and schools coming to life together in ancient times. The Mesopotamian region, which includes the Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian states, is the center of the oldest libraries. The library and museum, known as the Library of Alexandria, is considered a legend for learning and perpetuation of rational knowledge in the Hellenistic Period. Bergama and Celsus Libraries, known as Ionia and known to exist in the Aegean Region of Turkey today, take their place in this elite group after Alexandria. Starting from the spatial characteristics of the Library of Alexandria, it has been the subject of many history, archeology, and mythology studies with realistic stories written about it. Ancient libraries differ in terms of the medium in which the texts they contain are recorded and their contents. In our seminar, information will be given about these selected best examples. While the inspiring aspects of the library phenomenon of the ancient period will be discussed, riveting questions such as who created and stored the information resources of the period, how they were created, and to whom they served, will be explored. It is enough to look at the early Middle Ages that followed to see that knowledge gained scientific and social functionality. To support this conclusion, we will try to evaluate it on the example of Bayt al-Hikma, one of the best libraries of the early Middle Ages and the golden Islamic Civilization. In this webinar, information will be given about these selected best examples. While the inspiring aspects of the library phenomenon of the ancient period will be discussed, riveting questions such as who created and stored the information resources of the period, how they were created, and to whom they served, will be explored. It is enough to look at the early Middle Ages that followed to see that knowledge gained scientific and social functionality. To support this conclusion, we will try to evaluate it on the example of Bayt al-Hikma, one of the best libraries of the early Middle Ages and the golden Islamic Civilization