12
The book, a priceless treasure
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 35–37
GoalTell how books were made long ago; know the meaning of the word “ixtiro” (invention).
New words
treasure · xazinasmall tablet · taxtachainvention · ixtirorare · noyob
Explanation
Long ago there was no paper. People made tablets from soft clay, drew signs on them and dried them. Later books were written on skin, silk and paper. Because they were copied by hand, they were very expensive. When the printing press was invented, books became cheaper. The textbook has the text “Kitob — noyob xazina” (The book, a rare treasure).
Worked examples
“How the book changed”. Long ago there was no paper. People wrote on soft clay tablets and dried them. Later people wrote on skin, silk and paper. Books were copied by hand, which took a very long time. After the printing press was invented, books became plentiful. Now everyone can read a book.
Order: clay tablet → skin and silk → paper → printed book.
Class activity
“History of the book” chain: arrange 4 picture cards (clay tablet, silk, handwritten book, printed book) in the right order.
Practice
1
What did people write on long ago?
Soft clay tablets
2
What was done to the clay tablets afterwards?
They were dried.
3
Why were books expensive long ago?
They were copied by hand, which took a very long time.
4
Why did books become plentiful?
Because the printing press was invented.
5
Put in order (oldest first): paper, clay tablet, skin.
loy taxtacha, teri, qog‘oz