Question

Who used to collect manuscripts in the past?

• A. Monasteries
• B. Temple
• C. Rulers
• D. None of these

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

Temple

The correct answer is both (1) and (2).

Manuscripts were often preserved in temples and monasteries. The origin of the word Manuscript comes from Latin word Manu which means Hand.

Manuscripts – What did it Contain?

Manuscripts of the past contained the information on the following

1. Science
2. Lives of Kings
3. Religious practices and beliefs.
4. Epics
5. Poems
6. Plays

Manuscripts – Languages

From Indian context, the languages that were used to write in manuscripts were Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Tamil.

Materials Used to write Manuscripts

The materials that were used to write manuscripts were:

• Palm Leaves
• Bark of a Birch tree, which grows in the Himalayas.

Inscriptions

• Inscriptions were used by Kings, to send across messages and orders, which people could read and obey.
• Inscriptions also had recorded activities of Kings and Queens.
• Inscriptions are written on hard surfaces like metals and stones.

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Refer more

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of manuscripts?
• Indian books and manuscripts were written on perishable materials such as __________. (A) Cloth (B) Palm leaves (C) The bark of Birch trees (D) All of these