CLASS RESPONSE: The World Without The Printing Press (and why we would die)

Of all the matters we have discussed in class thus far, the most thought-provoking one has by far been when we discussed how the world would be without Gutenberg's invention of the movable printing press. So for my first response, I will elaborate on how bad the world would be without the printing press.

At first thought, one might think the idea that we would die without the invention of the printing press is a bit of an exaggeration. But this time I am almost certain this time I am NOT exaggerating. Think about it. How much have you done that you could not have done without the ability to read? You might still be skeptical, but think of it: how many times have you practiced your ability to read? You might have participated in reading if you have participated in the following activities:

• reading a book
• learning
• reading a sign
• watching TV
• browsing the Internet
• cooking something
• literally so much more I cannot list it all

The printing press did so much more than reproduce books and works of text. It created the basis for a new era of communication. If you told Johannes Gutenberg that his invention would lead to the spread of technology and information in the 21st century, he probably would've called you crazy.

The printing press spread literacy. That, in turn, has evolved the world we live in. You want to see a cat video. You go on Youtube, type in words that you comprehend and understand. Click a link that you have read and comprehend. Watch video. Type comment. Done. You want to text your friend. You pull out your phone, find their name, send them a message. Easy. You want to know about a topic. You Google it. Without literacy, this would all be impossible.

Literacy is so much more than reading things. It controls the basic flow of information. Without literacy, without this flow of information, our world would not have evolved as it has. Common Sense and Uncle Tom's Cabin are some key examples of how literacy has caused change in the world. Common Sense called Britain out on their mistreatment of colonists. Uncle Tom's Cabin called Americans out on their abuse of slaves. Feminists have taken to the Internet to spread information to call people out on their misogynistic actions. Literacy has caused empowerment. Literacy has sparked change.

Why would we die without the printing press? We already discussed in class the lack of maps we would have. But what about instructions? How could technology advance without a printed set of instructions on how to make a thing? Sure, word of mouth worked back in the 15th century, but after a while, people would most likely mess up their oral directions. I mean, it would be so tiring to repeat instructions over and over again. And hand-writing would be ineffective if you were trying to mass produce a thing, because most people wouldn't have been able to read. There goes the invention of the stove, the lightbulb, the computer, basically anything mechanical and technical and complicated. And that would work, for a bit. Except humans would keep dying: from hunger, or food-bourne illness, or diseases, or any other great cause of death that plagued the 1400's. We wouldn't last very long.

Conclusion: Without the printing press, we would most definitely die. Johannes Gutenberg was awesome. Thanks, Johannes Gutenberg. Or should I say, Johannes Swagenburg.