Question: As a writing medium such as the scroll slowly became less technologically preferred, does the cultural value also decrease, considering other materials were becoming dominant in significant texts such as Christian writings?
Commentary: I think it was interesting how a piece of writing could hold value beyond the written language on the physical paper and extend into the materials used to create it. The continued use of scrolls serves as a testament to the Romans' strong ties to tradition and culture. Even through the increasing popularity of the codex, particularly in religious contexts, scrolls remained the main writing format as they prioritized cultural significance over practicality. Additionally, the popularity of each form of writing selected, whether the codex by the Christians, or scrolls by the majority of Romans emphasizes how the context of writings can influence not only content but also writing medium.
Quote: Even if religious, political, social and economic factors had not told against it, the advent of mechanical printing, based on the single sheet, would probably have done so sooner or later. (Page 26)