The article discusses the decline of the reading culture in ancient Rome, paralleling it with contemporary claims about declining book readership. While literacy was limited—only about one in ten Romans were literate—the elite maintained a vibrant literary culture, supported by public libraries and early bookstores. However, as literary production waned and secular texts became less copied, books deteriorated and were largely lost, mirroring the fate of the empire itself. This historical context raises questions about the current state of reading in modern societies.
"The Roman elite defined themselves by a sophisticated literary education, and filled their cities with texts."
"The copying of secular texts slowed, and finally ceased. The books in Roman libraries, public and private, crumbled on their shelves."
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