The Print Revolution and Its Impact

The shift from hand printing to mechanical printing was a transformative moment in history. From its humble beginnings in East Asia to rapid expansion across Europe and India, the introduction of the printing press played a key role in the print revolution. 

 As a result, the production of books increased, but the perception of government, institutions, and authorities also changed. Information exchange increased exponentially, allowing them to communicate ideas more effectively. 

That said, let us take a look at the developments that came about after the print revolution and the impact of print technology on society as a whole: 

The First Book

Printing technology was first developed in Asia, with China, Japan, and Korea being its Centre. Paper was rubbed on both sides, with books stitched and folded together in China. Civil service examinations were also conducted, increasing the demand for textbooks and print technology.

The emergence of a new reading culture led to the growth of print technology, with Western printing techniques also being imported during the 19th century. 

Print in Japan 

Buddhist missionaries from China brought hard-printing technology to Japan between 768 and 770 AD. First printed in 868 AD, the ‘Buddhist Diamond Sutra’ is the oldest book in Japanese, containing six sheets of woodcut illustrations and text. The impact of printing visual material was massive, with many publishing methods being introduced later. 

By the 19th century, illustrative paintings of everyday life in Japan were being published in large numbers, covering many themes. 

Printing in Europe

When Marco Polo returned to Europe from China, he brought along a wealth of knowledge about woodblock printing which gained massive popularity. As demand for books increased, European booksellers started exporting them to different parts of the world. 

After a point, producing handwritten documents became impossible. At this time, innovation in the press started, with woodblocks being used to print playing cards, textiles, and religious texts with brief texts. 

Subsequently, Johannes Gutenberg set up the first known printing press in 1430. 

The Gutenberg Press 

An expert goldsmith, Johannes Gutenberg, published his version of the Bible, incorporating new-age technology into the existing ones. As the craze for reading books grew, many printing presses were set up between 1458 and 1558.

The shift from hand-printing material to mechanical printing was a landmark innovation in press.

The emergence of A New Reading Public

The introduction of the printing press opened up a newer reading public, even as the cost of printing books came down substantially. The time, effort, and labour required to produce them also decreased, allowing publishers to produce multiple copies at once. 

Before the printing press, people only heard stories orally. Be it ballads & performances to religious texts. Everything was recited, performed, or narrated among large groups. 

Publishing books was a challenge; they were expensive and limited in their usage. The print revolution changed this, allowing books to reach a wider audience, resulting in a new ‘reading public’. Printers also started illustrating storybooks, which were then performed at festivals.

The lines between oral and reading cultures became increasingly blurred as the listening crowd slowly became a reading crowd. 

Religious Debates and the Fear of Printing

The print revolution had an enormous impact on society, fostering a culture driven by debate, sharing ideas and discussion. It proved to be a boon for the free thinkers and revolutionaries, who could now disseminate their ideas freely without any censorship. It brought about a radical change in the various spheres of a common man’s life. 

Even though it was a revolutionary step, not everyone welcomed it. Many people feared the spread of print and were concerned about the impact of printing books in large numbers. 

According to them, if there were no control over what was being published, it would propagate unholy and rebellious ideas, degrading the value of religious literature. In either case, the press came under widespread criticism from both the monarchy and religious authorities.

The print revolution played a vital role in the Protestant Reformation, marking the end of Christian unity in Europe in the 16th century. A key figure of the movement, Martin Luther wrote the ‘Ninety Five Theses’ criticising the rituals and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

Picked up by publishers, it became even more popular, with over 5000 copies distributed in Europe between 1517 and 1520. 

Luther was subsequently put on trial before being excommunicated in 1521. Luther fled Germany, later translating the Bible into German. Several vernacular versions soon flooded the European market, with Peter Schoffer’s son famously translating the ‘New Testament’ in 1526. 

The Church defended itself, stating that the Latin Bible and Latin mass were the only acceptable Christian worship before banning literature questioning their teachings. During the 16th century, the Church also began maintaining an “Index of Prohibited Books”. 

The Reading Mania

As literacy increased in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, people wanted to read more books. The publishers realised this, promoting different types of literature to reach the common people. 

During the later stages of the print revolution, newspapers and journals published information about wars, trade, and developments in other parts of the world, influencing readers’ minds. 

The Nineteenth Century

Primary education was made compulsory in Europe during the late 19th century. A children’s press was started in France in 1857, focusing on creating literature for children. The Grimm Brothers gathered the traditional folk tales, while the role of women, both as readers and writers, became more significant. Lending libraries in England also became a hotspot for educating white-collar workers, artisans, and lower-middle-class individuals. 

Innovations in Press

By the 18th century, the press began using metal for the first time, with subsequent innovations in the press coming around during the 19th century. The concept of the power-driven cylindrical press was perfected by Richard M, while the offset was used for printing six colours at once. 

Besides electrical presses, some other significant developments during the 20th century were as follows: 

• Methods of feeding paper improved
• Quality of plates improved 
• Automatic paper reels were introduced

Conclusion 

The print revolution soon came to India when Portuguese missionaries translated their religious texts into Konkani during the mid-16th century. In the 18th century, the ‘Bengal Gazette’ by Bal Gangadhar Tilak became India’s first newspaper. 

By the 19th century, nationalist newspapers had grown in numbers, being critical of the practices of the East India Company.