In the
ancient world, education was a luxury not many could access or
afford. Originally, the written word was mostly kept by monasteries,
with monks copying manuscripts by hand for hours at a time. The work
was slow and tedious, with most of the works focusing on religious
messages. Sometimes older manuscripts were wiped clean for new ones,
pieces may be doctored, or some would not be recopied for their
dangerous substance.
Although
there were a few innovations leading up to its conception, in around
1440 Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Use of the
printing press made mass production of books possible, making the
knowledge they contain accessible to more people. Moving control
from the church also allowed writers freedom of topics.
Dubbed
as the “agent of change” in Europe, the printing press was used
for mass communication, bringing together disorganised masses and
bolstering a new middle class. It also fueled scientists, giving
them a means to communicate with each other and share their findings,
eventually leading to the scientific revolution. Printings made for
more universal versions of texts, and led to a rise in literacy
throughout Europe. Vernacular languages gained in popularity to
replace Latin as the universal language, printing helped standardise
spelling and syntax within languages which some claim led to the rise
of nationalism in Europe.
The
printing press was the first major step in breaking the pattern of
having an educated elite, allowing information to travel quickly and
accurately. It allowed for secular printing, encouraging the spread
of scientific findings and suppressed the power of the church to
doctor said secular writing. This freedom helped ease Europe into
future enlightenment and revolution.
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