Few single inventions have had such far-reaching consequences as the printing press, a machine by which images are transferred to paper by means of ink. It was invented in Europe in the mid-15th century, during the period known as the Renaissance. The printing press made possible the mass production of printed books and other texts. Before its invention, most books were copied out individually by hand, a time-consuming process. Books were rare and so expensive that only the very wealthy could afford them. There were no newspapers. The printing press allowed books and other texts to be produced quickly, accurately, less expensively, and in large numbers. It thus led to a revolution in communications. The invention of the printing press fostered a great increase in the literacy and education of the newly emerging middle classes. General knowledge and new ideas were spread widely. In each successive generation, there were more people in society who were able to take in the knowledge that was handed down in books and to add to it with their own contribution. The development of the printing press was part of a movement that helped usher in the modern era. By means of books, newspapers, and pamphlets, information of all kinds has reached all levels of society in most countries.
Invention of the Printing Press The German craftsman Johannes Gutenberg is widely credited with the development of the first printing press. The printing press could not have been developed, however, without paper and movable type—individual pieces of type that can be reused again and again. The letters or other characters of movable type can be arranged into words, sentences, and paragraphs and can later be rearranged to print different words. Both paper and movable type were invented in China. Printing was first mechanized in Germany. About 1455 Gutenberg used a printing press and movable type to print his masterpiece, a three-volume Bible now known as the Gutenberg Bible. The early printing press was an adaptation of the medieval screw press used to make paper. The paper press was in turn modeled after the ancient wine-and-olive press of the Mediterranean area. In the early printing presses, the movable type was arranged and fixed in place over a flat wooden plate called the lower platen. Ink was applied to the type, and a sheet of paper was laid on top. To operate the press, a long handle was used to turn a heavy wooden screw, which exerted downward pressure against an upper platen. The upper and lower platens pressed the paper and type together like a vise. The press produced sharp images on the paper. This kind of wooden printing press could print about 250 sheets per hour, on one side of the paper. THE IMPACT OF THE PRINTING PRESS Gutenberg’s invention spread quickly throughout Europe, owing largely to German printers. The printers found an enormous demand for their product. By 1500 nearly 40,000 editions of books had been printed in 14 European countries, with Germany and Italy accounting for two-thirds of the books. Religious authorities, governments, universities, reformers, and radicals were all quick to use the printing press. Printing was used to ensure the broad spread of religious material, first Roman Catholic and soon after Protestant. The printing press played an important role in the Protestant Reformation. However, many of the first books were devoted to literary and scientific works. Printing helped contribute to the scientific revolution. |