Final answer:
Books during the early Middle Ages were copied by hand largely by monks, who created illuminated manuscripts that served as both religious devotions and repositories of knowledge. This meticulous process was crucial for preserving writings on Christian theology, classical works, and translations from other cultures. The laborious work continued until the invention of movable type. The correct answer is option D.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the early Middle Ages, each book had to be copied by hand primarily by monks. The answer to your question is D. monks. Monasteries served as the central locations of learning and book production. Monks devoted large amounts of time to the transcription and illumination of manuscripts, a process that included both writing and decorating the pages, often with gold and vibrant colors. The painstaking creation of these books was not only an act of religious devotion but also a means of preserving knowledge, including Christian theology, classical writings, and in some places, translations of works from other cultures.
The creation of illuminated manuscripts was a labor-intensive process that could take a whole year to produce a single book. Illuminated manuscripts were highly valued and only the most affluent individuals, including emperors, kings, and religious leaders, could commission such luxurious items. It was not until the invention of movable type in the fifteenth century that book production became significantly more efficient, allowing for broader dissemination of texts.