[muawiyah]

You are in error ~ there were several different Indian writing systems, and it's quite obvious to anyone who's bothered to look, the Plains Indians sign language is, in fact, Shang Dynasty characters, among the very first writing systems!

What the Indians didn't do is invent paper, therefore whatever they wrote was rare, or very expensive. Until the Moslems passed on concept of paper to the Christians in Spain, European writing was likewise rare and very expensive.

It is almost always an error to view today's state of any population a true reflection of where they were 500 or 1000, or more years ago.

[yankeedame]

Until the Moslems passed on concept of paper to the Christians in Spain, European writing was likewise rare and very expensive.

Not to be picking holes in your coat, but the fact of the matter is that there was a great of of writing in (western) Europe before the introduction of paper. The writing was on vellum -- prepared lamb's skin.

The West did not use paper, per sa, not because it was barbaric but b/c it lacked the climatic circumstance to raise papyrus; the same reason as the Middle East at that time used much paper, yet very little vellum. To them, papyrus was easier to grow then sheep were to raise.