Who reads books anymore anyways?
I hear the cries of Gen Z echoing through my thoughts, knowing there is little that can be done to tell the history of the printing press without boring a small segment of readers to the brink of exhaustion, but I will still do my best.
The tangible effects of the Printing Press are well documented; production of written works across all of Europe exploded, exponentially growing in each passing decade. But such a study would be too easy, and too simple. Instead, let's take a deep look at the societal effects of the printing press and how it shaped the humans who have come and gone since its invention.
All inventions throughout human history have spawned from one commonality; a need. This need is relative, sometimes dire to the survival of humanity in the case of medicine and science, but sometimes less pressing, like an automatic dishwasher or dryer. In all fairness, to call Johannes Gutenberg’s machine an “invention” is a bit misleading and unfair to those before him. The printing press had already existed, but the process was slow and very rudimentary. Written works could be produced, but they could not be produced en masse. This system is one that suited the status quo of the day; only exceedingly large organizations with a mass amount of manpower can truly spread their ideas across large geographic regions. What organization in the 15th century loved this? That would of course, be the Catholic Church.
Now, here it is important to note that Gutenberg was not some radical revolutionary trying to invent a machine to dissolve the Catholic Church; rather, quite the opposite. Gutenberg was a simple inventor who saw a need and spent years perfecting his model for the Gutenberg Press. And, by 1450, his invention was mastered and ready to produce written works en masse. And it was at this moment the snowball began to roll uncontrollably, into an avalanche.
Now, ideas can be printed in quantities never before seen in humanity. For the first time, it truly seemed that the ideas of man can spread faster than man itself. No longer were the ideas being spread restricted to the clergy and nobleman, but rather the average artisan with a few extra coins lying around can have his ideas printed and distributed to whomever he deems appropriate. It is no coincidence that the Protestant Reformation shortly followed the invention of the press, as it is not an overstatement that this was the most important invention in the history of mankind. Printing had increased exponentially decade over decade, and with this literacy rates began to skyrocket, relatively speaking. Reading was no longer reserved for the political class, but began to leak its way into the lower rungs of society as well. Many advancements were made in science, math, medicine, the arts, theater, and so much more due to Gutenberg’s work.
The Printing Press is certainly, at this point, an obsolete piece of technology. Yet, it’s historical influence cannot be overstated, as the basis of all mass media spawned from this very moment. The Gutenberg Press is simply put, the most critical turning point in the history of humankind since the death of Jesus Christ himself.
Spread the Word!
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