What Was the Most Important Consequence of the Printing Press?

The most important consequence of the printing press was the spread of knowledge. Knowledge is the greatest aspect and power. Before Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press, there was the development of language, writing with hieroglyphs, the alphabet and then printing. Scribes would write a book by hand from the dictation of a scholar. Most citizens were uneducated while few were well educated. Handwritten books were expensive, so only the rich could own them. But even the rich were not wise enough to read books themselves.

The methods of book- making were much quicker with the printing press. It allowed for fast, cheap labor, which made books available to almost all citizens In Document 1, it shows a group of men making a book. With uneducated men, labor was cheaper which made the price of books decrease tremendously. Because it took less time to make books, many could be produced. Shown in the top picture are two men working on a book.

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Without the printing press it would take years to complete just one book.

Those two men in the top picture look very scholarly compared to the men, in the picture below, who do not. Now with the printing press and books spreading throughout countries, people are becoming more aware of what is going on around them. People were also becoming more knowledgeable. In 1500 the printing press spread to lower elevation regions where more people lived (Shown in Document 2). Martin Luther was a monk and a scholar who wrote a document, the 95 Theses.

This document was about the wrong teachings of Catholic Church and he challenged them. In 95 Theses, there were two central beliefs-that the Bible is the central religious authority and that humans may reach salvation only by their faith and not by their deeds. The printing press spread between people in different regions and was the opportunity of learning what was right and wrong of innovations. This document spread quickly in Germany in two weeks. Within a couple of months, entire Europe was aware of the 95 Theses.

Columbus’ letter announced the success of his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. This letter spread throughout Europe within the same year, 1493, and in some places 1497. Columbus’ letter provides observations of the native people’s culture and lack of weapons. “They are destitute of arms, which are entirely unknown to them, and for which they are not adapted; not on account of any bodily deformity, for they are well made, but because they are timid and full of terror. ” The natives were “fearful and timid.

. . ” Columbus declares that the land he discovered could easily be conquered by Spain. “For knowledge, too, is itself a power. ” –Sir Francis Bacon. The spread of knowledge throughout Europe was the most important consequence of the printing press. News was spread in Europe and people finally had the opportunity to learn about their surroundings. From the Bible being translated into many languages and the spread of the 95 Theses, the printing press was a huge step in processing books quicker.

Most important consequence of the printing press

Throughout history there have been many changes, discoveries, and inventions around the world. One of the most significant inventions that changed the world completely was Gutenberg’s invention; in the 1450s he revolutionized the world by inventing the printing press. He changed human communication completely, but what was the most important consequence of the printing press? The transition before the printing press was invented and after the printing press was invented? The spread of a new religion? Geography and exploration? The spread of ideas? One of the consequences of the printing press was greater knowledge in geography and more exploration. Before the printing press people would explore of course but it was abstruse because not a lot of technology existed. Hence Geography gave more people knowledge of the world, exploration created the establishment of colonies around the world, more territories were discovered. Document 7 shows a letter from Columbus explaining that he reached new islands, then that letter was sent Barcelona, Valladolid, Rome, Florence, Paris and other places around the world. Document 7 shows us pictures of maps and how the maps kept on changing throughout the years as the people made discoveries around the world, Because of the printing press people were able to know how other explorers reached new lands and inspired others to explore. if it wasn’t because of the printing press maps wouldn’t of gone throughout Europe, the establishment of colonies and the discoveries of new lands and territories would of taken longer.

The second consequence about the printing press that made a big impact on the world was the spread of Protestant religion. Luther’s ideas were spread due to the printing press and that helped spread the Catholic Church apart. Document 3 tells us how the printing press made more copies of a lot of Martin Luther’s books, this mean more people read his ideas and thoughts so they began to depart from the Catholic church. Document 4 shows us a very important picture of the irony between the two photos one is a picture of Jesus driving the money changers out of the temple and the other one is the pope collecting on indulgences. with the help of the printing press people were able to see these pictures and realize that that wasn’t what Jesus wanted another reason why people started to separate from the Catholic church. Document 5 shows us a map during the 1500s and how people were mainly Catholic and a map during the 1560s people were protestant or mixed catholic and Protestant due to the printing press printing Martin’s books. If it wasn’t because of the printing press there would just be an only catholic church. The last but also a very important consequence of the printing press was the spread of ideas. Document 8 is an illustration of all early classical and medieval authors and after the printing press was invented 20 million new books were printed. Document 9 is an illustration of all modern authors and the printing press making copies of the books that they wrote. modern and current ideas were spread faster. Document 10 shows Isaac newton’s bookshelf. He got all his knowledge through books his ideas would not been possible without the printing press. Due to the printing press people made and discovered mathematical and scientific discoveries and people began to gain more knowledge,

Though they were many consequences, the spread of ideas was the most important one Because mathematical and scientific discoveries were made. People began to have more knowledge, so they began to create more things that led to more jobs and more money, and a better economy. The world revolutionized faster because of the spread of ideas all due to the printing press.