Parchment

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/parchment

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary composition?Treated and scraped animal skins, predominantly sheep, goat, or calf
2. What is the comparative advantage?Superior durability, longevity, and suitability for codex format compared to papyrus
3. What is parchment and how is it made?Parchment is a special paper made from animal skins like sheep, goat, or calf. The skins are soaked, hair and flesh are removed, then stretched and scraped smooth before being dried and cut into sheets.
4. Why was parchment better than papyrus?Parchment is stronger, flexible, and lasts a long time. It can be written on, erased, and rewritten, and it keeps its shape even after many years.

Codex: An ancient book format consisting of folded sheets bound together along one edge.
Hellenistic Period: The historical period following the conquests of Alexander the Great, characterized by Greek influence.
Bifolia: A sheet of parchment folded once to create two leaves (four pages).