The Printing Press

Sam Walker, Adam Bonds, Ben Rosenbaum, Tyler Lorsbie

The Printing Press

$1.25

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Vol XCIII, No. 311

With this new invention, Scholars and Scientists could mass produce their work and read other's work. The Printing Press can be credited for fueling and allowing

The Printing Press is the Greatest Engineering Invention Ever

The Renaissance

Printing Press Influence

Before and After the Printing Press

Johannes Gutenberg Printing Press is the greatest invention in the history of mankind

The printing press revolutionized the world in ways that no other invention has.

The printing press created books that could be mass produced for cheap, allowing anyone to read and educate themselves.

Literacy was extremely low and the majority of Europe were oppressed and uneducated. This invention allowed anyone, regardless of class and wealth to have access to knowledge and be able to learn and have a voice.

Without the printing press we wouldn't have colleges, libraries, newspapers, or any other way of spreading news and information quick and efficient.

Modern science, literature, mathematics, and engineering could not be possible if it wasn't for the printing press.

"What gunpowder did for war the printing press has done for the mind"

-Wendell Phillips

Made Possible with Printing Press

Why Is Gutenberg's Version The Greatest?

Protestant revolution

Scientific revolution

Mass production of scholarly works

Voyages to the New World

Engineering feats such as the Sistine Chapel

Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses

Impact on Society and Economy

Johannes Gutenberg wasn't the first to create a printing machine, nor was he the first to invent a moveable block type printing press. The Chinese had invented these technologies almost five hundred years prior. Gutenberg's Press had many things about it that made it the prefect invention at the perfect time.

• A big reason Gutenberg's Printing press took off was because of the time period and region he was in. Although their technology wasn't far off from Gutenberg's press, the Chinese language needed over 10,000 characters to interchange, while European languages used far fewer characters.

• In China, the need for such an invention was very small, while in Europe, the market needed a printing invention. Europe was beginning the Renaissance period and people wanted to learn and read; the need for the mass production of books and documents became prominent.

• Gutenberg was a goldsmith and using his knowledge of metals, he created his press using a lead-based alloy, which was by far the most durable and effective way to print. Earlier chinese models used either a wood structure or other types of metal, but they weren't nearly as durable or useful. lead based metal is still used for mass printing today.

• The ink used by Gutenberg was also much more effective. The chinese had used a water-based ink, but water based ink didn't last as long and was difficult to use. Gutenberg's press used an oil based ink that was much easier to work with and lasted much longer.

• As said before, the time and place Gutenberg lived in was by far the biggest factor in the success of his printing press. The Renaissance had just begun and the people of Europe wanted to learn and share their new ideas, and the printing press would allow all of this to happen.

Societal Impact

Economic Impact

With books, newspapers, and other documents being produced at a high rate for cheap, the economic impacts from the printing press were enormous

Printing cities began to emerge as printing became a huge industry. The demand for writings, along with paper and ink skyrocketed.

The Printing press went almost unchanged until the 19th century, and the need for books and printing is still huge today

Literacy rates began to rise at a rate never seen before. people of all classes and wealth could finally get information from writing in their language and learn

The Renaissance was kicked off by the printing press, and people began to look at the world around them. Science, mathematics and philosophy became a focal point, as many breakthroughs and inventions were created because of the easy access to knowledge.

People began to revolt and go against previous institutions.

Impact on Environment

"Small things have a way of overmastering the great.... This small press can destroy a kingdom"

-Sonya Levien

Importance to Engineering

Without the Printing Press, Engineering Would Not Be Possible

The need for paper after the invention of Gutenberg's printing press had an immense effect on the environment as trees were cut down at a very high rate

Pulp mills created as a result of the demand for paper emit a large amount of pollution into the air

Although paper can be harmful to the environment if it is wasted, paper is easily recycled

The printing press can be credited with the main reason we have engineering today

• Science, mathematics, designs, experiments, and other key parts to engineering could not be easily learned, taught, and shared for all.

• Documents and plans for engineering projects need to be printed and shared in order for a project to be done in time

• Before documents went online, the printing press was the only way to copy and pass to other engineers.

• What happens if the power goes out?