<P> Historically, documents were inscribed with ink on papyrus (starting in ancient Egypt) or parchment; scratched as runes or carved on stone using a sharp tool, e.g., the Tablets of Stone described in the Bible; stamped or incised in clay and then baked to make clay tablets, e.g., in the Sumerian and other Mesopotamian civilizations . The papyrus or parchment was often rolled into a scroll or cut into sheets and bound into a codex (book). </P> <P> Contemporary electronic means of memorializing and displaying documents include: </P> <Ul> <Li> Monitor of a desktop computer, laptop, tablet PC, et cetera; optionally with a printer to produce a hard copy; </Li> <Li> Personal digital assistant (PDA); </Li> <Li> Dedicated e-book device; </Li> <Li> Electronic paper, typically, using the Portable Document Format (PDF); </Li> <Li> Information appliance; </Li> <Li> Digital audio player; and </Li> <Li> Radio and television service provider . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Monitor of a desktop computer, laptop, tablet PC, et cetera; optionally with a printer to produce a hard copy; </Li>

When was this document written what was its purpose