The advent of the printing press has been a landmark event for mankind. The printing press has played a crucial role in communication, especially when other mediums of communications, such as telephone and television, were not developed. Moreover, the printing press has been a crucial structure for knowledge management and thus given an impetus to the growth of mankind.
The concept of printing was first conceived and developed in China and Korea. Recently, a printed document of Buddhist scripture was discovered in Korea, which is supposed to be the oldest of all surviving print documents. However, though the concept was conceived by the eastern nations, the first mechanized printing press was invented by a German metalworker named Johannes Gutenberg in the 1400s.
Johannes Gutenberg used various types of printing methods, which included movable type, printing with the help of metal molds and alloys, and special oil-based ink. The invention played a crucial role in promoting literature as it facilitated the mass production of books.
By the 15th century, the printing press had spread across the European continent, which gave rise to the different universities. Despite having an assembly line approach to the production of books, supply could never meet the demands. On the other hand, the traditional technique of writing manuscript involved larger costs and could not facilitate mass production. However, the subsequent development in the European paper industry created the necessary conditions or the widespread adoption of printing technology.
Many inventors had attempted to structure metal type or had experimented with wooden cut letters, but it was Gutenberg who devised a technique that facilitated production of metal types in large quantities. This made printing with movable type economical. Consequently, there arose a need for suitable ink. This led to the development of viscous oil-based ink that replaced the water-based ink used for block printing and hand lettering.
The first specimens of printing by Gutenberg were the papal indulgences in 1454-55. The specimens were greatly appreciated as he sold them at a very low price in comparison to the hand written specimens. The invention of the printing press played a crucial role in the renaissance of literature and the spread of education.
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