1. The Printing Press

2. Before the Printing Press
Books were written before the printing press but how were copies of books created?
People (usually Monks living in Monasteries) had to copy them by hand
What effect might this have had on the world and the people living before the Printing Press?

3. Early Printing Woodblock Printing
Used in China as early as 200 A.D.
Japan and Korea also used this method of printing
Asian alphabets had thousands of letters – hard to catch on

4. Johann Gutenberg From a small German town
He combined earlier methods (woodblock printing, new types of paper, new scripts, etc.) into one to create the printing press
Around 1450, Gutenberg discovers that a traditional wine press can be turned into a “Printing” press

5. Wine Press

9. Gutenberg Bible

10. Importance? Makes books, newspapers, etc. more easily available
People more interested in becoming literate (learning how to read and write)
Spreads ideas very quickly (the ideas from the Reformation and Scientific Revolution, etc.)
Increases knowledge
Printed in languages the people understood (not just Latin)
What things in our society today stem from the invention of the Printing Press?