Final answer:
A collection of symbols purposefully organized in ancient and medieval times is known as a codex, which is a type of book with pages that can be written on both sides and is distinct from a manuscript that is a hand-written document. The correct answer is option: b) codex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Collections of symbols purposefully organized are called a codex. Unlike a manuscript, which is a document written by hand often with lavish decorations, a codex refers to a manuscript book with pages that can be written on both sides. The term codex comes from the Latin 'caudex', meaning 'tree trunk', which later came to mean 'book'. Medieval codices were significant innovations over scrolls, allowing for easier reading and handling. The Dresden Codex, for instance, contains standard glyphs in Maya writing that are logographic, representing words or symbols.
Codices were vital in preserving cultural influences, writing systems, and religious beliefs, such as those depicted in the Dresden Codex, which illustrate pagan gods and rituals tied to astronomical calculations. In the Hillinus Codex, the intertwined roles of the artist and the scribe demonstrate the artistic dedication that went into creating these codices. Overall, a codex is a historical artifact that played a crucial role in the way information was recorded, read, and preserved in ancient and medieval times.