How did people write and draw before the invention of ballpoint pens?

 Before the invention of ballpoint pens, people used a variety of writing and drawing tools to create written and artistic works. Some of the most common writing and drawing tools used before the invention of ballpoint pens include:

Quills: Quills were the most common writing instrument before the invention of ballpoint pens. Quills were made from the feathers of birds, typically geese or turkeys, and were sharpened to a fine point. Quills were used to write on parchment, paper, or other materials, and they could produce a wide range of line widths depending on the pressure applied.

Ink: Ink was used as a writing fluid in conjunction with quills or other writing instruments. Ink was made by mixing water, pigment, and a binder, and it was used to create written works on a variety of surfaces.

Pencils: Pencils were another common writing and drawing tool before the invention of ballpoint pens. Pencils were made from graphite, which was ground into a fine powder and mixed with clay to create a writing implement. Pencils could be used to write or draw on paper or other surfaces, and the line produced could be easily erased.

Fountain pens: Fountain pens were another type of writing instrument that predated ballpoint pens. Fountain pens were filled with ink from a reservoir and used a nib (a pointed tip) to apply the ink to paper or other surfaces. Fountain pens were an improvement over quills because they did not require the constant re-sharpening of the point.

Overall, before the invention of ballpoint pens, people used a variety of writing and drawing tools, such as quills, ink, pencils, and fountain pens, to create written and artistic works.