In the mid-1400s all books in Europe were handcrafted and laboured over. As a result, they were costly and amounted to a few thousand. However, by the 1500s, they were mass-produced by the millions. What changed?
The introduction of the mechanical movable type is what caused this dramatic shift in the book industry. This invention was created by a German inventor, publisher and printer Johannes Gutenberg.
The machine worked by applying pressure to an inked surface and then transferring this to a print medium, such as paper or cloth. Small metal letters known as type were arranged to make sentences and were used to be applied to the medium.
His printing press made books much cheaper and quicker to produce, which led to the massive spread of information and ideas.
It enabled people to read the Bible in their own language and for knowledge to be spread not only across the world but also but up and down the social hierarchy. This invention was the first step towards educational awareness for the masses. It helped usher in the age of enlightenment and led to higher literacy rates, especially among women due to the increased access to the classics. The printing press increased an understanding of nationalism and patriotism amongst people.
As books became more common, a particular type of book came into being called "chapbooks". These were short, inexpensive booklets which generally concerned matters of the day, such as politics, religion, or current events. Even those who could not read would hang them on their walls.
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