PrintingPrinting

Volti Chapter 11Volti Chapter 11

PrintingPrinting Of all technologies, perhaps none have had the greatest impact as Of all technologies, perhaps none have had the greatest impact as

printingprinting The development of a written language is one of the hallmarks of The development of a written language is one of the hallmarks of

civilizationcivilization Spoken language characteristic of all societies, yet not all have Spoken language characteristic of all societies, yet not all have

written languagewritten language Many cultures that have written language have only developed this Many cultures that have written language have only developed this

recently often because of the influence of other societies recently often because of the influence of other societies (missionaries, etc.)(missionaries, etc.)

A written language is an essential technology - keeping accounts, A written language is an essential technology - keeping accounts, recording history, transmission of ideas and culturerecording history, transmission of ideas and culture

"Much that red men know, they forget; they have no way to preserve "Much that red men know, they forget; they have no way to preserve it . White men make what they know fast on paper like catching a it . White men make what they know fast on paper like catching a wild animal and taming it."wild animal and taming it."SequoyahSequoyah

The Printing RevolutionThe Printing Revolution Effects of written language were minimal when it was understood only by a Effects of written language were minimal when it was understood only by a

few peoplefew people Before written language, humans developed astonishing memories to Before written language, humans developed astonishing memories to

record eventsrecord events Introduction of printing with moveable type - originated in the OrientIntroduction of printing with moveable type - originated in the Orient

4th Cent. A.D. - Chinese copying stone inscriptions with paper rubbings4th Cent. A.D. - Chinese copying stone inscriptions with paper rubbings 7th Cent. A.D. - Chinese used carved wood blocks7th Cent. A.D. - Chinese used carved wood blocks

Printing moved much slower through EuropePrinting moved much slower through Europe 1400 - Italy: playing cards and pictures of saints made from wooden blocks1400 - Italy: playing cards and pictures of saints made from wooden blocks Johann Gutenberg - developed workable system of printing with separate Johann Gutenberg - developed workable system of printing with separate

pieces of typepieces of type Printing books required more advanced technology than just printing a Printing books required more advanced technology than just printing a

single pagesingle page More advanced inks and binding methods emergedMore advanced inks and binding methods emerged Books printed from moveable type were harbingers to the age of mass Books printed from moveable type were harbingers to the age of mass

productionproduction

Printing and the Expansion Printing and the Expansion of Knowledgeof Knowledge

Printing, in particular, books, did much to Printing, in particular, books, did much to transform European societytransform European society

Allowed for the transmission of ideasAllowed for the transmission of ideasAllowed for more accurate map making Allowed for more accurate map making

and navigationand navigationAllowed for the advance of science - data Allowed for the advance of science - data

could be recorded more accuratelycould be recorded more accuratelyLiteracy spreadLiteracy spread

Printing and the Rise Printing and the Rise of Protestantismof Protestantism

The circulation of books allowed for people to collective challenge The circulation of books allowed for people to collective challenge the dominant Catholic orderthe dominant Catholic order

The Protestant Reformation resultedThe Protestant Reformation resulted The printed bible allowed worshipers to seek God’s word directly The printed bible allowed worshipers to seek God’s word directly

rather than through the Church which was the traditional intercessorrather than through the Church which was the traditional intercessor "God’s highest and extremest act of grace, whereby the business of "God’s highest and extremest act of grace, whereby the business of

the Gospel is driven forward"the Gospel is driven forward"(Martin Luther on the invention of printing)(Martin Luther on the invention of printing)

Catholic Church also used the printed word to transmit its message Catholic Church also used the printed word to transmit its message

but not to the extent of the Protestant Churchbut not to the extent of the Protestant Church

Printing, Literacy, and Printing, Literacy, and Social ChangeSocial Change

Protestants, motivated by biblical reading, Protestants, motivated by biblical reading, became quite literatebecame quite literate

The people, however, most driven to read were The people, however, most driven to read were the clergythe clergy

Books still very expensive and somewhat rareBooks still very expensive and somewhat rare A more literate society could begin to ponder A more literate society could begin to ponder

new ideas, especially those relating to social new ideas, especially those relating to social changechange

The relationship between printing and social The relationship between printing and social change is reciprocal - one does not cause the change is reciprocal - one does not cause the other, but rather, both influence the otherother, but rather, both influence the other

Psychological Effects of PrintingPsychological Effects of Printing

Printing resulted in a greater sense of one’s Printing resulted in a greater sense of one’s separateness from the rest of society - reading is separateness from the rest of society - reading is a solitary activitya solitary activity

Marshall McLuhan - Printed books Marshall McLuhan - Printed books

fundamentally altered societies not solely from fundamentally altered societies not solely from the ideas transmitted, but the medium itself the ideas transmitted, but the medium itself altered the way we look at the world. Reading altered the way we look at the world. Reading requires us to think in a sequential manner, just requires us to think in a sequential manner, just as a sentence is read from left to right.as a sentence is read from left to right.

NewspapersNewspapers For centuries, the book was the end product of the For centuries, the book was the end product of the

printing pressprinting press First newspaper appeared in the 17th century in EuropeFirst newspaper appeared in the 17th century in Europe First newspapers - poor type, hard to read, contained First newspapers - poor type, hard to read, contained

more sensational news than actual newsmore sensational news than actual news Again, one technology is often driven by the Again, one technology is often driven by the

development of other technologiesdevelopment of other technologies Steam power...Steam power...

steam ships and railroads...steam ships and railroads... transports report to various locations...transports report to various locations... news is transmitted back through the use of telegraphs...news is transmitted back through the use of telegraphs...

Newspapers gain relevance as worthy news becomes Newspapers gain relevance as worthy news becomes available.available.

Circulation Wars and The Circulation Wars and The Shaping of Public OpinionShaping of Public Opinion

Mass production of newspapers made them more affordableMass production of newspapers made them more affordable Newspaper readership increases as cost decreasesNewspaper readership increases as cost decreases Newspapers become important vehicle for shaping public opinionNewspapers become important vehicle for shaping public opinion New York Journal (William Randolph Hearst) favored involvement in New York Journal (William Randolph Hearst) favored involvement in

Spanish American War 1898Spanish American War 1898 Newspapers did not cause war, but sensational stories reported did Newspapers did not cause war, but sensational stories reported did

not help avert warnot help avert war

Other factors contributing to the rise of newspaper readers:Other factors contributing to the rise of newspaper readers:

"Also, Urbanization and immigration produced large concentrations "Also, Urbanization and immigration produced large concentrations of population from which a mass readership could be drawn. Finally, of population from which a mass readership could be drawn. Finally, a more democratic social order generated an environment in which a more democratic social order generated an environment in which the ‘common man’ gained in political and economic importance; as the ‘common man’ gained in political and economic importance; as the first of the mass media, newspapers were a natural the first of the mass media, newspapers were a natural outgrowth of ‘mass society’" outgrowth of ‘mass society’"