KEY: Each One Teach One on the Printing Press

Communication methods have been constantly evolving from oral communication, to paper communication, to communication through technology. Today, communication happens orally, on paper (through written or printed word), on social media, and even through the use of hands by gestures and sign languages.

At certain moments of history have provided explosions in communication methods. One of the more notable technologies in Western European history is the revolutionary printing press (seen above), initially a simple creation requiring attendants.

The History

Invented by Johannes Gutenberg (circa 1400-1468, seen right), full name Johann Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg, the printing press was born in a period of uncertainty to its inventor. Gutenberg was entangled with legal issues shortly after his business partner, and friend, passed. These issues threatened to erase his name from creating the first Western printing technique. What the legal proceedings did succeed in doing at the time was sullying Gutenberg's name, as he died penniless in 1468.

While the printing press was an invention built in the wrong time, its Asian counterpart and inspiration was not. The Chinese and Koreans had their own variations of printing. For instance, China printed via "relief blocks," which titled the printing technique as "relief printing." The Western printing press moved from private production to public production in 1454. 

By the end of the 15th Century, roughly 8 million books had been printed by means of the press. In 1517, Martin Luther used the press to produce the infamous 95 Theses that caused a schism in the Catholic Church. Once this religious revolution happened, the press became a means of spreading ideas: religious, political, and otherwise.

An Invention that Failed its Inventor Proves Itself to the World

While Johannes Gutenberg died penniless and ashamed, the printing press created a means of intellectual revolution. The Reformation of the Catholic Church was bolstered and recognized by the masses due to the ability to print religious intellect that did not align with the Church, which had massive influence over Middle Age Europe. 

The Enlightenment, a time of revolution in philosophy, scientific investigation, government and human thought, would've failed to take off or grown mutated in predominately French ideas between countries. The United States may have never gained its independence or written her Constitution. Revolutions that created sovereign nations might've collapsed early in their battles. Philosophical and political, respectively, Enlightenment thinkers Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu were only a few thinkers that were able to spread their ideas so quickly, thanks to the quick production and distribution of their written works.

While less-than-wanted or agreeable ideas were also spread out as a consequence of the mass production of an evolved printing press, it created a need for people to debate and learn to understand various ideas, theories and manners of how to approach ideas they may not be in agreement with. An invention is never 100% good just as the world is not 100% pure and good. An invention is as its users intend it. 

However, the question remains: was the printing press a critical piece of history? Did it create history as we know it?