What stands out most clearly is that a definite trend from the East to the West can be discerned for the diffusion of puppets, especially shadow plays, during our era. But we are sadly lacking any detailed descriptions of puppets, puppet shows and their plays in the ancient days, whether in old documents, literature or art. India especially maintained their traditions and literature only by oral transmission since very ancient times. Only those arts supported by the courts and kings merited any mention; puppetry being a folk art, was seldom recorded until the start of the Christian era.
    We may be forced to admit that shadow plays were prevalent in the East,at least by 200 BC - probably originating in India - then the later appearance of rod and glove puppets in our era AD followed out of this puppetry form. Marionettes likely developed from automata and primitive puppet displays, which in turn seem to have been a separate development that originated in ancient Egypt, from rituals and ceremonies performed using string-operated figurines.
 

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Introduction
Chapter One - Toys, Dolls, and Automata
Chapter Two - Scenic Shades
Chapter Three - Puppetry Operational Procedures & Other Thoughts
Chapter Four - Europe and Asia in the Era A.D.