answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

There is some confusion and controversy regarding this question.

The collection of Sanskrit Hymns which form the Hindu religious text Rig-Veda describes astronomical occurrences with a very high degree of accuracy that have been dated earlier than 4000BC(Playfair, 1790). This could only have been possible if the chroniclers of these texts had physically observed those events since the ability to retroactively calculate those events required the knowledge of Newtonian mechanics which was unknown till the late medieval period and there is no doubt that the written form of the RigVeda predates Issac Newton by at least 2000 years.

Unfortunately, Indologist Max Mueller, out of a desire to date the RigVeda at a later period than early Biblical events, fixed the date without explanation at 1200 BC based on sparse evidence of linguistic evolution and this has been taken by subsequent historians as truth without further investigation. It's another question altogether whether at all the subject of linguistic evolution can be relied upon to reliably date the civilizations, what may be true for one language might be completely different for another. In fact, a reasonably motivated person can twist the dating to suit his own ideas, as Max Mueller seems to have managed.

The other contender for this is The Epic of Gilgamesh which is an epic poem recorded on 12 clay tablets from Ancient Mesopotamia (Current day Iraq). The earliest versions of the Epic date as early as 2150-2000 BC but the current versions are thought to have been edited to its final and current form by 1600 BC.

To answer your question, unless someone manages to refute the astronomical dating of the Rig Veda(no one has managed it so far), it is by far the oldest book in human history. Otherwise, it is the Epic of Gilgamesh.

The Oldest book is the Diamond Sutra in the dinasty of T'ang of China...

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

6d ago

The oldest known book is the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia dating back to around 2100 BCE.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

The Sumerian cunieform tablets.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Dicturey

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is the oldest book?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What has the oldest book on magic got to do with the oldest book on double entry accounting?

The author of the oldest book of magic invented the double entry encounting. His name was Luca Paciola.


What is the oldest book in Ireland?

The Book of Kells


What role does the Rig Veda play in the Hindu religion?

As the oldest book in Hinduism.


What is the oldest book in the Library of Congress?

the mf book


What is the name of the worlds oldest novel?

the oldest book was called secrets the oldest book was called secrets


Is the book muti's necklace the oldest story in the world is fiction book or nonfiction book?

Muti's Necklace: The Oldest Story in the World by Louise Hawes is a fiction story.


Why is the bible in the world book of records?

It is the oldest book ever written.


What is the oldest book available today?

the bible


What is the oldest printed book in literature?

The Bible


What is the oldest surviving book?

Probably the Bible....


What is the oldest historical fiction book?

The Bible.


What is the oldest trick in the book?

The string trick.