* Definition of "book": What constitutes a "book" is subjective. Is it a single scroll? A collection of clay tablets? A bound volume?
* Early writing systems: Writing systems evolved over time and in different parts of the world. The earliest known forms of writing are from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, dating back thousands of years.
* Preservation: Many ancient texts have been lost to time, making it difficult to track the evolution of writing and book-making.
However, we can point to some early examples of writing that could be considered precursors to books:
* Ancient Mesopotamia (c. 3500 BCE): Cuneiform writing was inscribed on clay tablets, which often contained literary works, legal documents, and other records.
* Ancient Egypt (c. 3000 BCE): Hieroglyphs were used on papyrus scrolls, which were often used to record religious texts, stories, and historical accounts.
* Ancient China (c. 1200 BCE): Oracle bone inscriptions and later, bronze inscriptions, were used for divination and recording historical events.
It's more accurate to say that writing and book-making evolved over time, with different cultures contributing to the development of these practices.