The Importance of The Printing Press Essay Sample

Without the printing press, the world would not be like it is today. Before the printing press was invented new information was dispersed very slowly and it still did not reach many. Although it was passed on, it was spread much slower than it is today. Also, most books were in Latin and could not be read by the public. The printing press affected the whole world and changed how the world would develop. The most significant outcome of the printing press was its effect on the religious reformation which led to the spread of new Protestant ideas, but it also had a minor impact on geography and new literature. 

The printing press had a massive impact on Europe, but it especially affected the spread of new religions and lessened the power of the Catholic Church. In document 3B, a book by John Man about Johannes Gutenberg says “A third of all books printed in Germany between 1518-1525” were from Luther. Luther was one of the most influential religious figures because his ideas were spread faster than other revolutionaries that came before him because of the printing press. At the time the Catholic Church was extremely powerful and had a lot of influence over what information was given to the public. Before the printing press was invented everything was hand-printed, which means it would take much longer to make books or flyers. Once the printing press was in use, anyone could spread their ideas and at a rapid speed. Without the printing press, Martin Luther would not have been able to spread his ideas as easily, and there would not have been the Protestant Reformation. In document 1, it has two images, one from 1494 and the other from the 16th century. In the first image, it shows Catholic monks copying the Bible by hand, and in the second image, it shows workers in a printing shop. The two images show how printing books was much easier and more efficient after the invention of the printing press. When books were handwritten they were in Latin and very few were made, so not many people could get their hands on them. This meant that information was not spread easily, and only a select few could understand it. When books and pamphlets began to be printed on the printing press, it was in the vernacular and many more copies could be made. The printing press made it possible for Martin Luther to spread his ideas faster and more efficiently. With the help of the printing press, Martin Luther was able to spread his new ideas and help start the Protestant Reformation. 

Maps were essential for explorers, and without the printing press, maps would not be spread and new land would not have been discovered. In document 6B, it has a map showing the spread of a letter Christopher Columbus wrote to the King of Spain. It shows how, because of the printing press, information from explorers could be shared quickly. So, because Columbus's letter was spread so efficiently other explorers could hear about the new world. The letter was spread across Europe in a year, and without the printing press, it would have taken much longer to reach others. It made it possible for the information to expand to the distance that the letter did. In document 7, maps of the world in the 1400s and 1500s showed how maps became more detailed over time because of the printing press. Before the age of discovery, many people did not know there was another continent, but while explorers were sailing, cartographers were on board drawing maps of where they were going. Then once they got back to Europe the maps were printed and spread to others and helped other explorers to discover new land. The printing press made maps much more accessible and easier to update as new land was discovered. The printing press made it possible for explorers to discover new land, and shape the world as it is known today. 

Society benefited greatly from the invention of the printing press thanks to new discoveries in the fields of science, math, politics, and art. This new literature spread throughout Europe and changed everyone’s lives. In document 9, a secondary source titled “Ten Important Works of Early Modern Authors” shows various books being printed such as The Bible in 1611 (London) and Machiavelli’s works in 1532 (Rome).  This new literature was now available to the “general public” which led to the spread of new ideas. Due to the Renaissance, new literature was coming from various city centers such as London and Venice due to their large populations. Prior to the printing press, books and plays would have been hand printed, but now were mass produced and spread to the public.  This is significant because a higher literacy grew from people wanting to read these new books. In the Mathematical Papers of Issac Newton, from 1664 to 1665, the scientist began to read modern books by Galileo and Descartes.  This inspired a love of math that then led Newton to college at the age of 19, where he read ancient texts along with modern literature.  Newton’s love of reading helped inspire him and direct his career future of studying motion and gravity. The printing press allowed scientists and mathematicians to write and publish innovative ideas that could spread to other individuals who then could make new discoveries based on what they learned.  Newton’s discovery of gravity was groundbreaking and was due to the printing press. New literature in various fields such as science and math were able to flourish thanks to the printing press.