Write short note on the following: …

THE GUTENBERG PRESS:

1.The Gutenberg press was the first printing press in the world. It was set up by Gutenberg in Germany in 1448. Before the invention of this press books were written by hand and they were very costly. So the poor people could not afford to buy them. The Gutenberg press ensured that books reach the common people.

2. The Gutenberg press had a long handle attached to the screw. This handle was used to turn the screw and press down the platen over the printing block that was placed on top of a sheet of damp paper. Gutenberg developed metal types for each of the 26 characters of the Roman alphabet and devised a way of moving them around to compose different words of the text.

3.It came to be known as the movable type printing machine. This machine remained the basic print Technology over the next three centuries. Books could now be produced much faster than what was possible before. The Gutenberg press could print 250 sheets on one side per hour.

4. The first book Gutenberg printed was the Bible. About 180 copies were printed and it took 3 years to print them.


ERASMUS IDEA OF THE PRINTED BOOK:

1.Erasmus was a Latin Scholar and a Catholic reformer. He criticised the tenets of Catholicism but held different ideals from Martin Luther. Unlike Martin Luther he was not in favour of printed books.

2. He was doubtful of the effects that mass printing of books could have on people's mind. He believed that if there was no control over what was printed and read it would result in the spread of a irreligious and radical ideas. Also the significance of valuable literature would be lost.

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(a) The Gutenberg Press ‘Gutenberg’ press was the first printing press of Europe. It was invented by Johann Gutenberg of Strasbourg. He grew up in a large agricultural estate and had knowledge and experience in operating olive and wine presses. The olive press provided him the model for the printing press and he used moulds for casting metal types for letters of the alphabet. He invented the printing press around the year 1448. (b) Erasmus’s Idea of the Printed Book Erasmus, the latin scholar, was not happy with printing of books because he was afraid that this would lead to circulation of books with rebellious ideas. He felt that although a few books may give useful information, the majority of books may be just useless or give stupid, scandalous of irreligious ideas which may lead to incitement of rebellion. (c) The Vernacular Press Act It was passed in 1878 by the British government in India. This act provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the Vernacular Press. If a Vernacular Paper published any seditious material, the paper was banned and its printing machinery was seized.