manuscripts, letters, or other documents

Evidence

"The introduction of paper was a decisive break. But paper was not necessarily cheap, at times even expensive and, different from the material mentioned above, barely re-usable. However, the reuse of paper from manuscripts, letters, or other documents was not uncommon at children’s schools or among scholars."

Remarks

The transition to paper in the 14th and 15th centuries (p. 10, note 17) changed the permanence of educational exercises. Unlike clay or wooden tablets, paper was 'barely re-usable' (p. 10). Because paper was 'at times even expensive,' it was frequently recycled from existing 'manuscripts, letters, or other documents' for use in schools (p. 10). This indicates a high value placed on paper as a writing substrate despite its perceived ephemerality compared to older materials (p. 10).