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People could read long before the invention of the printing press. People were reading and writing in ancient Egypt four and a half millennia (that's 4500 years) before the invention of the printing press around 1500.

But, and here is the key point, although some people could read and write, not a lot of people could. The printing press made printed material available to many more people than had access to manuscript copies of things before. And that meant that more people had an opportunity to read, and therefore to learn how to read. Thus the number of literate people rose considerably in the centuries following the invention of the printing press.

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How does Johannes Gutenberg invention affect the generation today?

Johnannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This allowed for the people to get books faster and more of them. Before the printing press was invented, monks would sit and hand write the long books. I also gave people a chance to learn how to read. Many people could not read before the printing press because books were expansive and scarce.


Which was invented first the X-ray machine or the printing machine?

The printing press was invented in around 593 AD in China, long before the X-ray machine (approx 1896). It should be noted that printing is even older than the invention of the mechanical printing press, for example evidence for woodblock printing dates from 200 AD in China. Please see the related links.


How long did it take Johannes Gutenberg to make the printing press?

It took him 4 years to complete the printing press.


How long have people been communicating?

People have been communicating for thousands of years, with early forms of communication including cave paintings, gestures, and verbal language. The development of written language and the invention of tools like the printing press and telegraph have further evolved communication over time.


Why was the invention of printing so important to the Chinese?

so they can save the memories and hold it long as they can


History of the printing press?

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440. He knew that wood block printing took a long time because you had to carve each letter. He invented a press with metal lettering, which was much easier to make once you had a mold.


When were the first stage plays published?

Stage plays were written down for as long as we know about them--that is why we know about them. We have a number of Greek stage plays which were written down 2400 years ago. If however you mean which ones were printed on a printing press, all of the classical works including those of playwrights such as Seneca and Terence were published within 50 years of the invention of the printing press in 1440.


What kind of art painting or sculptures did Johann Gutenberg do?

When people say "art", they didn't always mean the Art we think of today. When someone says art today, we think of paintings, drawings, and things such as those. Art during the Renaissance time period was also paintings and drawings but also inventions and other things. Gutenberg's art was his invention of the printing press. This was a huge invention because it allowed many more writings to be published. Before this was created, people had to write by hand. This took a very long time. According to study's , if took an average copyist five months to produce a single book. After the printing press was invented, it took the same amount of time for the printing press to produce 500 books. The Renaissance time period was very interesting and surely affected how we live in today's society.


How long did it take to make a book before the printing press?

It would've took forever because they did have the printing press that had the stamps and everything, but you ha to write it out with an ink pen. So probably to make a book. It matters how long a book it was, but if it was average, probably a year.


What was an effect of invention of the printing press?

One effect resulting from the invention of the printing press was that printed material was more readily available to the general public, and not just for the privileged, wealthy few who could afford scribes. This therefore enabled books to be printed quickly and inexpensively, making them available to commoners. In turn, this had the result of allowing knowledge to be more available to everyone, not just those wealthy enough to afford it. This also meant that new ideas could be spread throughout communities and countries through written materials (as long as the people could actually read). People's awareness of their world, beyond their own villages, was increased. A significant effect was how the printing press changed the role of the Catholic Church. No more did people have to accept what the church told them - they could now read it for themselves. In an indirect way, it led to the Reformation of the church, one of the major events in European history. Without the printing press and the availability of Bibles, Martin Luther may not have been in the position to question the authority of the church and to encourage people to study The Bible for themselves to see how Faith was the means to salvation, rather than "good works", as the Catholic Church had expounded for centuries.


What was an effect of an invention of the printing press?

One effect resulting from the invention of the printing press was that printed material was more readily available to the general public, and not just for the privileged, wealthy few who could afford scribes. This therefore enabled books to be printed quickly and inexpensively, making them available to commoners. In turn, this had the result of allowing knowledge to be more available to everyone, not just those wealthy enough to afford it. This also meant that new ideas could be spread throughout communities and countries through written materials (as long as the people could actually read). People's awareness of their world, beyond their own villages, was increased. A significant effect was how the printing press changed the role of the Catholic Church. No more did people have to accept what the church told them - they could now read it for themselves. In an indirect way, it led to the Reformation of the church, one of the major events in European history. Without the printing press and the availability of Bibles, Martin Luther may not have been in the position to question the authority of the church and to encourage people to study The Bible for themselves to see how Faith was the means to salvation, rather than "good works", as the Catholic Church had expounded for centuries.


Did Chinese invent printing press or Gutenberg?

Although invented by the Chinese long ago, the printing press is considered to be created by Johannes Gutenburg. Many people expanded upon the press before Gutenburg perfected it until it was able to work