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1.4 Printing

2 min readjanuary 7, 2023

C

Christine Lin

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

C

Christine Lin

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

Effects of the Printing Press

The invention of the printing press by in the 1450s helped promote and spread new ideas💭 born from the throughout Europe. The printing press also encouraged the growth of which later affected the development of national cultures. 

The adoption/translation of texts that were understood by a wider audience. before this, in the , only the elites were educated in , which was the predominant languages of most classical and religious texts.

The idea of the printing press was not new; it came from in the 1000s but it wasn’t until Gutenberg took the idea and was able to create the machine. As a result, books became less expensive and more readily available which encouraged people to become more literate📖. 

The printing press can also be seen as the cause for the . Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” was able to be mass printed and led to Luther becoming the world’s first best-selling author. Copies of the document were printed in London a mere 2 weeks after its release and his translation of the New Testament in German sold 5,000 copies in just 2 weeks!

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-RXVYbpO7kxhG.jpeg?alt=media&token=903512a4-e2e4-4358-bb7b-99ec3fcb0fce

Image Courtesy of Modern Day Reformer

Other important books that the printing press helped to disseminate: 📚

  • The - First book printed using movable type, it helped to establish the popularity of the printing press.

  • The of the New Testament revealed a new translation that revolutionized modern biblical studies.

  • The Prince - Written by Niccolò Machiavelli had a lasting impact in the field of political science and it provides a guide for rulers at that time period on how to maintain authority.

Printing also helped propel the 🔬 in the 16th and 17th centuries. Prior to the printing press, handwritten scientific accounts were hard to come by, expensive💲, and usually had errors. It was not just the speed that ideas could be spread, but the accuracy of those ideas that led to the printing press being an integral part of the .

🎥 Watch: AP Euro - Northern Renaissance

Key Terms to Review (13)

China

: In the context of AP European History, China refers to a major Eastern civilization that has had significant influence on global trade, culture, and politics. It's known for its dynastic rule, technological advancements like gunpowder and printing, and philosophies such as Confucianism.

Effects of the Printing Press

: The effects of the printing press refer to the significant cultural and societal changes that occurred after Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1450. These effects include increased literacy rates, democratization of knowledge, spread of ideas, and acceleration of scientific discovery.

Gutenberg Bible

: The Gutenberg Bible is the first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe. It marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of printed books in the West.

Johannes Gutenberg

: Johannes Gutenberg was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, inventor, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with his mechanical movable-type printing technology.

Latin

: Latin is an ancient language originally spoken by Romans. During Middle Ages, it served as a lingua franca for education, religion, and scholarly works across Europe.

Martin Luther’s “95 Theses”

: The "95 Theses" were a list of propositions for an academic disputation written in 1517 by Martin Luther, that started the Protestant Reformation. They criticized papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials.

Middle Ages

: The Middle Ages, also known as the medieval period, is a historical era in Europe that lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and transitioned into the Renaissance and Age of Discovery.

New Testament - Erasmus of Rotterdam's edition

: This is an edition of the New Testament translated into Greek by Erasmus, a Dutch Renaissance humanist. His work laid down much groundwork for Martin Luther’s later translation into German and subsequent Protestant Reformation.

Protestant Reformation

: The Protestant Reformation was a major 16th century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Its religious aspects were supplemented by ambitious political rulers who wanted to extend their power and control at the expense of the Church.

Renaissance

: The Renaissance was a period in European history, from the 14th to the 17th century, marked by a revival of interest in classical learning and values. It's known for its advancements in art, literature, science, and exploration.

Scientific Revolution

: The Scientific Revolution was a period of significant change in thought and understanding about the physical universe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It marked a shift from religious, philosophical explanations to empirical observation and experimentation.

The Prince - Niccolò Machiavelli

: "The Prince" is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. It offers advice on political leadership, notably advocating for realistic over idealistic ruling.

Vernacular Literature

: Vernacular literature refers to works written in the everyday language spoken by people, as opposed to Latin which was commonly used in Europe for scholarly and official writings.

1.4 Printing

2 min readjanuary 7, 2023

C

Christine Lin

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

C

Christine Lin

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

Effects of the Printing Press

The invention of the printing press by in the 1450s helped promote and spread new ideas💭 born from the throughout Europe. The printing press also encouraged the growth of which later affected the development of national cultures. 

The adoption/translation of texts that were understood by a wider audience. before this, in the , only the elites were educated in , which was the predominant languages of most classical and religious texts.

The idea of the printing press was not new; it came from in the 1000s but it wasn’t until Gutenberg took the idea and was able to create the machine. As a result, books became less expensive and more readily available which encouraged people to become more literate📖. 

The printing press can also be seen as the cause for the . Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” was able to be mass printed and led to Luther becoming the world’s first best-selling author. Copies of the document were printed in London a mere 2 weeks after its release and his translation of the New Testament in German sold 5,000 copies in just 2 weeks!

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-RXVYbpO7kxhG.jpeg?alt=media&token=903512a4-e2e4-4358-bb7b-99ec3fcb0fce

Image Courtesy of Modern Day Reformer

Other important books that the printing press helped to disseminate: 📚

  • The - First book printed using movable type, it helped to establish the popularity of the printing press.

  • The of the New Testament revealed a new translation that revolutionized modern biblical studies.

  • The Prince - Written by Niccolò Machiavelli had a lasting impact in the field of political science and it provides a guide for rulers at that time period on how to maintain authority.

Printing also helped propel the 🔬 in the 16th and 17th centuries. Prior to the printing press, handwritten scientific accounts were hard to come by, expensive💲, and usually had errors. It was not just the speed that ideas could be spread, but the accuracy of those ideas that led to the printing press being an integral part of the .

🎥 Watch: AP Euro - Northern Renaissance

Key Terms to Review (13)

China

: In the context of AP European History, China refers to a major Eastern civilization that has had significant influence on global trade, culture, and politics. It's known for its dynastic rule, technological advancements like gunpowder and printing, and philosophies such as Confucianism.

Effects of the Printing Press

: The effects of the printing press refer to the significant cultural and societal changes that occurred after Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1450. These effects include increased literacy rates, democratization of knowledge, spread of ideas, and acceleration of scientific discovery.

Gutenberg Bible

: The Gutenberg Bible is the first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe. It marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of printed books in the West.

Johannes Gutenberg

: Johannes Gutenberg was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, inventor, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with his mechanical movable-type printing technology.

Latin

: Latin is an ancient language originally spoken by Romans. During Middle Ages, it served as a lingua franca for education, religion, and scholarly works across Europe.

Martin Luther’s “95 Theses”

: The "95 Theses" were a list of propositions for an academic disputation written in 1517 by Martin Luther, that started the Protestant Reformation. They criticized papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials.

Middle Ages

: The Middle Ages, also known as the medieval period, is a historical era in Europe that lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and transitioned into the Renaissance and Age of Discovery.

New Testament - Erasmus of Rotterdam's edition

: This is an edition of the New Testament translated into Greek by Erasmus, a Dutch Renaissance humanist. His work laid down much groundwork for Martin Luther’s later translation into German and subsequent Protestant Reformation.

Protestant Reformation

: The Protestant Reformation was a major 16th century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Its religious aspects were supplemented by ambitious political rulers who wanted to extend their power and control at the expense of the Church.

Renaissance

: The Renaissance was a period in European history, from the 14th to the 17th century, marked by a revival of interest in classical learning and values. It's known for its advancements in art, literature, science, and exploration.

Scientific Revolution

: The Scientific Revolution was a period of significant change in thought and understanding about the physical universe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It marked a shift from religious, philosophical explanations to empirical observation and experimentation.

The Prince - Niccolò Machiavelli

: "The Prince" is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. It offers advice on political leadership, notably advocating for realistic over idealistic ruling.

Vernacular Literature

: Vernacular literature refers to works written in the everyday language spoken by people, as opposed to Latin which was commonly used in Europe for scholarly and official writings.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.