Essay Example 10-9

Patrick T. Mikasa

March 42, 2015

8th Hour

Unit 3 Essay

Introduction Paragraph

There is an old proverb that reads, “Knowledge is power.” There is no better

example of this proverb in action than the historical events surrounding the creation and

use of the printing press during the 16th century in Europe. During this time, Johann

Gutenberg invented the printing press and the techniques required to fully use this

invention’s potential. What occurred afterword was a storm of intellectual, academic,

social, religious, political, and economic change that swept through all of Europe. The most

important consequence of the printing press was its impact on economics due to the

exponential growth of the printing press being used throughout Europe, the spread of

knowledge and growth in academics, and the creation of paper money.

Essay Example 10-9

Body Paragraph

The exponential growth of the use of the printing press throughout Europe made a

massive impact on Europe’s economic growth. Prior to the 16th century, the only way to

recreate a book in quantity was to hire a scribe to manually write out the entire text, and

copy it word for word. The literacy rate within Europe at the time was less than a half of a

percent. Because of the large illiteracy rate, access to books was limited to only a few,

educated individuals, either of the nobility or of the church. This in turn, limited the

economic activity, thus the economic growth of the entire continent. With Johann

Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press and moveable type, thousands of copies of

books could be made within days. Within the span of a generation, the literacy rate within

Europe skyrocketed from a half a percent, to more than thirty percent of the population.

With a more educated population, economic activity also grew, impacting Europe’s

economic growth. Due to the exponential growth and use of the printing press, Europe’s

economy was greatly impact.

Essay Example 10-9

Conclusion Paragraph

The most important consequence of the printing press was its impact on economics

in Europe due to the exponential growth of the printing press being used throughout

Europe, the spread of knowledge and growth in academics, and the creation of paper

money. Although the printing press greatly impacted religion, academics, and exploration;

economics was the most impacted because of the prosperity and change it brought to

European society. In the end, without this great and important invention, society today

would be vastly different and more boring without the written word.

Essay Example 10-9

Bibliography

To create your bibiliography, use the source material information on your documents

from your DBQ.

Bibliography

Derek T. Whiteside, editor. The Mathematical Papers of Isaac Newton I: 1664-1666. Cited by I.B. Cohen book review, The Scientific American, January, 1968.

John Carter and Percy H. Muir, editors. Printing and the Mind of Man: A Descriptive Catalogue Illustrating the Impact of Print on the Evolution of Western Civilization During Five Centuries, London: Cassell and Company, 1967.