Question

How did the printing press impact Europe?

Answer 1

The impact of the printing press. The printing press had dramatic effects on European civilization. Its immediate effect was that it spread information quickly and accurately. This helped create a wider literate reading public.

Answer 2

The printing press opened knowledge up to the masses (over time) in Europe.

Prior to the invention of the printing press, books were primarily scribed by and stored at monasteries. A very wealthy monastery might have 100-200 books and would guard them jealously.

With the invention of the printing press, over time more people were able to have access to books and were able to use the knowledge in those books to think critically about the institutions in their life, like the church.

As the Bible became printed more widely, more people had access to the book and were able to use the Bible to analyze the Catholic Church's teachings.

In my way, the Printing Press set off the fire of the Renaissance.