COMS 381 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Scriptorium, Movable Type, Greek Alphabet
Document Summary
Refers to the idea that technologies cause social effects in a direct & uncomplicated way. The problem: technological determinist arguments claim that technologies themselves are responsible for social changes but they tend to ignore the existing social conditions and needs that drove people to adopt these technologies in the first place. From the greek alphabet to the gutenberg press. Beginnings of christianity: originates as a reform movement within judaism, spreads through the travels of apostles and christian writings. Rise of monasteries and with them, scriptoria: scriptoria were rooms where monastic scribes gathered to copy books by hand. Rise of universities in the 11th & 12th centuries: less control from religious authorities or monarchs, growing demand for books. Innovations in china: paper, block printing and movable type. Paper: appeared in china as early as 1st century ce, entered europe through the islamic world in 12th century.