Printing

Printing is so important to our civilization in general, that if it wasn't invented, we probably would still be living in the dark ages.  We wouldn't have our newspapers, books or magazines, or even mail as we know these today.  There wouldn't be computers either.  We wouldn't be able to share information widely and it wouldn't be easily passed down to future generations.  Because of this, our entire pool of knowledge would be very small and advancements in technology would be tiny.  Pretty mind-boggling, wouldn't you say?  Of course, we would have the scribes who would hand copy information, but this would probably take years to finish even one volume!  It was also a very expensive task.  Printing helped us immensely to evolve into our status of technology today. 

The oldest printed book known was printed in 868 AD and was called the Diamond Sutra, a Chinese religious book.  The images were carved out of a block of wood and covered with ink.  Then mulberry-bark paper was laid over the block and rubbed.  When the paper was taken off, the impression of the block was on the front.  Then in the 11th century the Chinese were printing using a letter type made out of clay that was movable and also could be re-used.  

In European printing, a man by the name of Johann Gutenberg was printing in 1440 and is considered the inventor of printing.  There is no known connection between early Chinese and European printing.  Gutenberg used a different type of printing technique, which involved a screw press that forced the paper against the type.  His press was similar to a wine press and operated about the same way.  He developed a mold to make separate letters from melted metal that would line up accurately.  He also developed an ink that printed well on his metal press.  In 1455, Gutenberg printed a Bible that is the most valuable book in the world!  Several copies of his Bible reside in museums and libraries today. 

Printing soon spread all over Europe using Gutenberg's press.  He lived in Mainz, Germany, but soon Rome, Venice, Paris, Spain and Holland all had his printing presses in the late 1400s.  The first book ever to be printed in English was done in 1475 by William Carton.  Then during the 16th century, powerful rulers and the Church became concerned that too much knowledge was spreading and their subjects would rebel against them.  They decided to cut down on the printers' available supplies so that the printing of books and information would very much slow down.  

But in the 18th century, printing began to grow again.  From 1450 to 1800, the mechanical technique of printing hardly changed at all.  But then the invention of the composing machine came along, which could set type faster than any printer could do by hand.  Also, the typeface or style of the letter was evolving into beautiful and delicately styles such as Baskerville, Caslon and Bodon, which are still in use today! 

Then the power press was invented in the 1800s.  Soon after the power press, the high-speed notary press was invented.  Large quantities of printing could be done in a short amount of time with this press.  This greatly enhanced the printing of books and newspapers! 

These evolving printing inventions have helped mankind become the information and technological society that we are today.  New inventions are being made at a much quicker rate than in the past!  All of the processes of printing today are much more accurate and faster.  Who knows what lies ahead in the future?