The Printing Press and the Modern Day Internet

The printing press was a revolutionary invention created by German Johannes Gutenberg in 1440. At first, using movable wooden blocks, he printed differing documents by pressing paper upon the inked blocks. Then, he decided that by using steel molds, he could easily produce multiple moveable types for additional presses. Some scholars believe that it was actually another man, Janszoon Koster with making moveable metal type. It simply depends on whom you listen too.

In 1444, it's thought that he produced his first printed version of the Gutenberg Bible, which could be made quickly and reliably using his new invention. This bible quickly became popular throughout Europe, and soon presses were being used for even more books.

More people learned to read across Europe, with the purchase of books becoming ever more inexpensive. The printing press caused the average man to be able to afford buying books, novels, and plays. As more people learned to read, the gap between the elite and the common man slowly began to close.

Through advances over the years, the printing press has become more automated, which makes it even easier to produce large numbers of books. The modern day press, however, works using the same general process that Gutenberg perfected.

Though the Chinese are generally credited with using the first block printing, using clay tiles, it wasn't until the invention of the printing press that the form become automated. Also, it was now easier and faster, using a machine rather than hand setting tiles.

With the creation of the computer and Internet, there is slowly another revolution taking place. While we will always have books, we now have the ability to access worldwide documents with a few clicks of the mouse. Now, everything from news to books, photographs and video can be seen from sources throughout the world.