The print revolution and its impact


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

The print revolution and its impact

The print revolution and its impact: The print revolution was not just a new way of producing books; it transformed the lives of people, changing their relationship to information and knowledge and with institutions and authorities.

A New Reading Public: With the printing press, a new reading public emerged, as printing reduced the cost of books. Access to books created a new culture of reading.

Earlier reading was restricted to the elites. Common people lived in a world of oral culture. They heard sacred texts read ballads recited and folk tales narrated. Now, books could reach out to wider sections of people.

But the transition was not so simple . Books could be read only by the literate and the rates of literacy in most European countries were very low till twentieth century.

People Who Enjoy Listening to Books: There was a large number of people who could not read, but could listening to books being read out. To satisfy their needs, printers began publishing popular ballads and folk tales with lots of pictures. These were then sung and recited at gatherings in villages and in taverns in towns. Thus, oral culture entered print and printed material was orally transmitted. The hearing public and the reading public became mixed together.

Religious Debates and the Fear of Print: Innovation of printing culture created the possibility of wide circulation of ideas and introduced a new world of debate and discussion. Even those who disagreed with established authorities could now print and circulate their ideas. From the printed message, they could explain people to think differently and move them to action. But printed books were not welcomed by everyone. It was feared that if there was no control over what was printed and read, then rebellious ideas might spread. If that happened, the authority of ‘valuable’ literature would be destroyed. This anxiety was expressed by the religious authorities, monarchs, writers and artists.

Ballad :- A historical account or folk tale in verse , poem or song usually sung or recited . 

Taverns :- Places where people gathered to drink alocohol , to be served food and to meet friends and exchange news . 

 
 


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