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Encyclopedias contain general information on various topics, often with illustrations and maps. They can be in print or digital formats and are useful for research. The first encyclopedia was written in the 1st century BC, and modern encyclopedias can be updated frequently online.
An encyclopedia is a book, or series of books, that contains general information on many topics and subjects. While often found with dictionaries in resource libraries, encyclopedias can be much longer and contain more information about the topics within them. In the past, these works have been collected into multiple published volumes. Most modern publications, however, include digital formats such as software on disk or websites with information about them.
Format and purpose
Some people may confuse an encyclopedia with a dictionary, although they are inherently very different. A dictionary offers definitions of words, occasionally accompanied by illustrations, to provide the reader with the meaning of individual terms or phrases. On the other hand, an encyclopedia explores topics more thoroughly and more often includes illustrations, maps, and photographs. While most encyclopedias are organized alphabetically, some are organized by categories or cross-referenced articles to allow for easier reading.
Readers can find a wide variety of topics within these volumes, making them excellent research texts. Historical events, such as dates and major battles of various wars; scientific information, such as pertinent data regarding different theories; and popular culture, such as names and short biographies of various celebrities, are found in these volumes. Over time, publishers make revisions and release new volumes with more information to keep them relevant.
Historical encyclopedias
Pliny the Elder wrote the first documented encyclopedia in the 1st century BC with the help of his nephew. This work consisted of 37 volumes and covered topics ranging from anthropology and human physiology to agriculture, painting and pharmacology. In the following centuries, encyclopedias adopted a religious connotation. The first Christian edition was published in AD 560, and the first Muslim volume came to light shortly thereafter.
One of the longest encyclopedias ever was created in 1403 when the Yongle Encyclopedia was published in China. It consisted of 11,000 handwritten volumes; most of the original work has been lost over the centuries and fewer than 400 volumes survive today. The word “encyclopedia” comes from the Greek enkyklia paideia, which means “general knowledge”. It has been in use for at least 500 years, since the publication of the Encyclopedia, or Knowledge of the World of Disciplines, in 1559.
Modern formats
In the 20th century, the Encyclopædia Britannica became the best-known Western work of its kind. Topical encyclopedias have also become popular, covering topics as varied as economics, bioethics or Judaica. Toward the turn of the century, many publishers began releasing them in digital formats such as Compact Disc (CD) and Digital Versatile Disc (DVD).
Some encyclopedias have become available entirely online, without a corresponding print version. One of the most important advantages of online encyclopedias is that they can be changed frequently, so they stay up to date. Traditionally, a single writer wrote an encyclopedia alone or as a collaborative effort with peers, but a team of writers, who often have no direct contact with each other, can now cobble together numerous volumes from a distance.
