[spoiler]Before the birth of the printing press created by Johannes Gutenberg, books were handwritten and extremely limited to the people. The printing press opened people to ideas and information not widely known to many before. But because of the printing press’ success, people’s own thoughts and ideas broadened as well, contributing to a great reformation of the world itself. In order for books (and copies) to have been developed before the invention of the printing press, it had to be written by hand, with pen and ink, accompanied by the dictation from the texts. The printing press allowed print shops to be established, which seemed much more accelerated and efficient. (Document 1) Printing also spread vigorously across the continent of Europe. Printing presses were initially only around or in Germany, a few of them in other countries, but around fifty years after its birth, the printing press was all throughout Europe. Its numbers greatly increased along with the places where they were made available. (Document 2) We can conclude that a myriad of texts have been recognized and read by people across Europe. The Protestant Reformation simply would not have been as tremendous without the help of the printing press. The printing press allowed Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, which displayed his animosity to the Catholic Church’s indulgences, or things bought by the people so they can be saved from their sins and purgatory, to be spread throughout Europe. In 2002, John Man claimed Martin Luther’s success was due to the help of the press, discerning that a third of Germany’s books at the time were by Martin Luther. (Document 3) Not only did the printing press display texts, but images as well. Many people in Europe were illiterate, due to lack of books and education (which was probably due to lack of texts/books), so a way to convey Luther’s ideas was to show them visuals. The visual shown is a woodcut displaying Jesus driving out money changers, and the Pope accepting the money people offered in exchange for indulgences. Elizabeth Eisenstein of Cambridge University Press stated that the printing press contributed more destruction of religious harmony instead of peace. (Document 4) Europe was originally and primarily a Catholic continent, but was soon largely penetrated by Protestantism. Some regions remained Catholic, others converted to Protestantism, and some consisted of both Catholics and protestants. The regions with mainly Catholic or mixed people were under the power of Rome. (Document 5) The printing press definitely promoted new ideas about the Catholic Church, which led to a great revolution that changed an entire continent. The printing press also altered map making and geographical knowledge. With the help of explorers’ recordings, like Christopher Columbus’ letter to the King of Spain, which was spread and published and translated into various editions throughout Europe, our knowledge of the world improved as well. (Document 6) Thanks to records like these, maps were enhanced. For example, in an initial map made in 1489, South or North America was nowhere to be found, and apprehension of the countries, continents, and seas was clearly very little. This however slowly improved, with the creation of Waldsemuller’s map in 1507, which now showed the Americas, and more oceans and countries. The last map by Ortelius displays a map much like modern ones, and a wider understanding of the world. (Document 7) The classical and medieval books shown, which primarily originally in Greek or Latin, were printed into the vernacular or the native language throughout Europe after the invention of the printing press. (Document 8) The early modern books printed consisted of wider works, all from different regions of Europe. Shakespeare’s works, biographies, essays, bibles, and stories from all over Europe were printed and each reached a wider audience due to the printing press. (Document 9) Revolutionary scientist Isaac Newton read both classical and modern books, and as noted by Derek T. Whiteside, his ideas and “principles” usually emerged from reading the early modern books. While reading classical books, he primarily just summarized them, but while reading the modern books, new ideas that opposed or added to the author’s ideas were constructed by Newton. (Document 10) Newton acquired further knowledge with books printed by the press, and later developed new knowledge with the help of these books. From efficiency to religious conflicts to geographic knowledge to new concepts, the printing press indeed partook a large role in all these issues. It allowed the rise and spread of new ideas knowledge, and allowed the rise of a new and much more evolved world.[/spoiler] an essay i wrote for one of my dear friends.