With the creation of the printing press, people were easily able to share and collect information. It is one of the top advancements in humanity’s journey. People’s interaction with one another transformed along with the flow of information. From ancient scripts to modern digital texts, the transformation is drastic.
The Origins of Printing
The woodblock reproduction printing technique that was used in China serves as the first example of printing techniques in ancient civilization. Different forms of printed material from the 9th century China also serve as a reference to ancient civilizations using such techniques. They would carve texts and images into wooden blocks, place ink onto them, and create copies. Due to its extremely slow and labor-intensive nature, the reach and usage of printed materials were kept to a minimum.
The Advent of Movable Type
The real change in printing took place with the innovative invention of movable type. Even though it was Korean and Chinese people who had first tried printing using movable type, it was a German creator by the name of Johannes Gutenberg who truly deserves credit for the invention of the modern printing press. In 1440, Gutenberg came up with an invention for the mass production of writing through a new system of movable metal type. This single improvement made the printing process quicker than before, cheaper, and thus more books could be produced and accessed globally.
Gutenberg’s Printing Press
Due to Gutenberg’s contributions with the printing press, Europe experienced the Renaissance. His press was used to print the Gutenberg Bible in 1455, which marked the first major book to be printed through movable types. People no longer had to worry about hand-written manuscripts as the invention of the printing press meant an age where information could be printed was emerging. Ordinary citizens were able to buy books that were previously only accessible to the wealthy and religious elite.
The Impact on Society:
The printing presses invention resulted in a powerful social and cultural revolution. People’s ability to receive education was made easier through the mass reproduction of books, pamphlets, and other materials that could be printed very quickly. In turn, this increased literacy levels and the amount of knowledge that could be communicated to the public greatly increased. Scientific and other significant concepts that were previously reserved for select groups could now be disseminated easily, leading to advancements in several areas.
The Industrial Revolution and Beyond
With the advancements in technology came the advancements of printing techniques. The use of steam-powered printing presses during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries gave birth to faster and larger print runs. This was the advent of mass media publications and greatly improved the circulation of newspapers and magazines.
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