Printing Press Leads To Literacy

Johannes Gutenberg is credited with creating the printing press in 1447. http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press Gutenberg's machine was known for making the mass production of print fast and simple. However, the spread of literacy and the use of the vernacular were also a great benefits. With the machine literature became more wide spread and available, therefore common people were given more access to it. This new availability of printed material influenced schooling and literacy. In addition, since the printed material was being distributed to such a large group, a common language of writing needed to be used. Print now needed to be written in the language of the common people. In "Print, Reform, and Reformation" Harvey J. Graff's writes, " Two of the most significant developments of the Reformation were the contribution of the printing press and the use of the vernacular." (106) The vernacular now needed to be used because so many people had access to it. The invetion of the printing press has been great benefit to society. It has made literature and information available to everyone.