1. The History of Printing
WORLD HISTORY READERS
Level 2-❾
The History of Printing

2. Early Writing Systems
What was one of the first ways people recorded information to share with others?
People drew pictures or used their handprints to record information.
What was the problem with this way of recording information?
People could not share knowledge widely as the information was only in one place.
People needed a way to make copies of things and share them.

3. Wooden stamps for clothes
The First Stamps
What kind of information could be shared through stamps?
Stamps were used for art, to write messages, and to put names on things. These stamps could put patterns on clothes and print pictures and designs.
Wooden stamps for clothes
A name stamp
Indian stamp designs

4. Wood Blocks How were stamps called blocks used for printing?
The Chinese made many small wooden blocks to print Chinese writing. By using one block for each character, they could use the same blocks again and again.
Also in 1234, the Koreans began to make many small metal blocks for printing.

5. The First Printing Press
Have you heard about Johannes Gutenberg?
He was the person who made the first movable metal block printing press in It was called a “press” because it pushed the paper very hard onto the letter blocks.
Gutenberg’s press
How did this printing press change printing in Germany?
It made a very good print and was much faster than writing or printing by hand.

6. The Printer’s Job
What was the process for using the Gutenberg printing press?
① Arrange the metal letter blocks into words and sentences.
② Put ink on the blocks.
③ Put a piece of paper on top of the blocks.
④ Use the machine to press the paper against the blocks.
The final product

7. vs The Power of Steam Have you heard about Friedrich Koenig?
In 1814, Friedrich Koenig, also from Germany,
began selling steam-powered printing presses.
Steam power turned the wheels of the printing press.
How was Friedrich Koenig’s printing press different from Gutenberg’s press? vs
Gutenberg’s press
Koenig’s steam press
With steam power, the printing press could work much faster, allowing a person to print hundreds or thousands of copies in a few minutes.

8. After the First Printing Presses
What were some printing devices that followed the first printing presses?
After the first printing presses were developed, there followed…
in the 19th century, rolling printing presses for newspaper publishers
in the early 20th century, mimeograph machines for making copies in offices
before 1940, the first photocopier
in 1968, the first dot matrix computer printers
today, laser printers for home use and “on-demand” printers in some bookstores

9. 3D Printing Today What can 3D printers do?
3D printers are machines that print objects. Instead of ink, they can print with plastic, metal, glass—even chocolate!
The International Space Station is using 3D printing technology for research and to make things needed on the space station. Someday, we may use 3D printing to make a base on the moon or Mars!
3D printers are now making car parts, building materials, food—even bones and body parts.

10. Vocabulary liquid n. steam n.
a substance, like water, that is not solid and you can pour easily
steam n.
the gas that comes from heating water

11. Vocabulary laser n. stamp n.
a high power light that can be used for printing
stamp n.
a tool, often a carved block, for putting a special ink mark on something

12. Vocabulary newspaper n. photocopier n.
a publication consisting of a number of large sheets of folded paper
photocopier n.
a machine that makes copies of papers with writing on them by photographing them

13. Vocabulary metal n. storyteller n.
a hard substance such as iron, steel, or gold
storyteller n.
someone who tells stories