Information became more accessible, affordable and reliable as the price of books fell sixty-five percent. Literacy rates rose and a new educated middle class emerged. Books became a common resource for scholars and professors and it soon became the medium of communication in certain countries and people became more aware of historical events and the state of the world. Cities with printing presses grew percent faster than other non-print cities in 1500-1600. In 1499, two thousand, five hundred printing presses were established in Europe and fifteen million books have already been printed. Authorship became more meaningful and soon Copyrights were invented.
The printing press was also the downfall of the Church since they could not control what was in print. As commoners read the Bible for themselves, they came up with their own interpretations which often served themselves. Reformer’s ideas such as Martin Luther’s became bestsellers and these all contributed to the Protestant Reformation. Though the Church tried to censor and restrict what people read, many printing presses found a way around it and soon the Church monopoly fell apart.
The printing press was also the downfall of the Church since they could not control what was in print. As commoners read the Bible for themselves, they came up with their own interpretations which often served themselves. Reformer’s ideas such as Martin Luther’s became bestsellers and these all contributed to the Protestant Reformation. Though the Church tried to censor and restrict what people read, many printing presses found a way around it and soon the Church monopoly fell apart.
