NATS 1775 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Elizabeth Eisenstein, Movable Type, Indulgence
Document Summary
Lecture nine: technology in the early modern period. The printing press was based on an invention which was created in china. The chinese developed paper, moveable type and wooden blocks which were used for printing on paper. This did not take off in china for many reasons. There were too many characters in the alphabet, so it was too complicated to use the printing press with so many different characters. Scribes had special privilege in society and did not want to give this up by letting the printing press become popular. Johan gutenburg is credited with bringing the printing press to europe. The first book printed was the bible. The church liked having the printing press because it helped to facilitate the widespread sale of indulgences, which were pieces of paper that were sold which essentially granted a person salvation from their sins. These are two separate debates and should be approached separately.