Renaissance Technology

The Printing Press

• A machine used for printing books quickly

• Invented by Johannes Gutenberg

in 1452, Germany

The Printing Press

Johannes Gutenberg was no genius!!

• He knew about existing technologies and ideas

• He combined, or synthesized, these ideas

• His invention had major effects on global history

Or was he?

The

Printing

Press

Paper from China, c. 1100 -cheaper and quicker to make than parchment/animal skin

moveable type replaced block printing

Wine press screw used to press paper against letters

Carolingian script replaced Gothic Script -easier to read

Literacy was increasing-people wanted to read

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/science-channel/29677-what-the-ancients-knew-traditional-chinese-paper-video.htm

Moveable type Paper

Wine Press Screw

Carolingian Script

Parchment

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Wine Press Screw

Carolingian Script Gothic Script

The Printing Press

• first book ever printed on a printing press using moveable type:

• The Gutenberg Bible c.1450

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Good:

Books = cheaper

More people reading= more job opportunities

Bad:

Writing caused individuals to rise up against those in power

POLITICAL IMPACT

GOOD:

-Books printed in vernacular (common language)

BAD:

-Ideas spread led to religious wars

-Secular ideas spread

SECULAR:

SOCIAL IMPACTS GOOD:

-Spread ideas quickly

-Increased education

-Promoted the growth of the middle class

NEGATIVE:

-Wars against the church

CULTURAL IMPACTS

GOOD:

-New ideas

-Gutenberg Bible

BAD:

Religious conflicts