During the Middle Ages, it was important to own a manuscript as it was considered a status symbol. They were difficult and time consuming to make, almost like anything that is considered a status symbol of today's wealthy.  

Not only was a manuscript a staus symbol, it helped spread Christianity to other regions. Instead of unreliable word of mouth, these manuscripts helped unify the people by giving them uniform information. The creation of manuscripts was popular until the invention of the printing press in the next century. 

The manuscripts were in Latin in monastaries. They were created by scribes that had to both be learned in Latin, but had to have good penmanship and also be excellent artists as well.. The manuscripts were made of parchment. The scribes' job was copy the text as exactly as possible. Some scribes were illiterate, and spelling errors were hard to catch for them. The scribes left room for the illuminations. What a difficult job! 

The scribes work, needless to say, was not easy. Their life was not one of leisure. They took their work very seriously as they were writing the words of God. The scribes used quills from geese to copy the manuscripts.  These would dull quickly, making the job even more difficult. 
  
  
Materials used to illustrate the manuscripts were created from orgainic materials. The most popular colors of choice were blue, red and gold. The gold color came from...gold! The gold was mixed with mercury for ease of use. The gold leaf used was the first thing applied to the page before the other colors were used. Ground up bugs were used for color as was arsenic, but after the monks started dying from it's use, arsenic was no longer used. 

Today, we have illuminated websites and glossy magazines. Only the technology has changed!