The First Printed Books
The section details the inception of print culture beginning in East Asia, notably in China, where hand printing developed around AD 594 using woodblocks. It explains how printed materials proliferated under the patronage of the imperial state, with an increase in textbooks for civil service exams leading to a wider readership that included women and merchants. The introduction of Western printing techniques in the late 19th century marked a significant evolution in print technology.
In Japan, hand-printing introduced by Buddhist missionaries led to the creation of printed texts such as the Diamond Sutra, establishing the groundwork for a diverse literature that catered to urban and leisure readers by the late 18th century.
The narrative transitions to Europe, where the woodblock printing technique arrived in the late 13th century. With the increasing demand for books, particularly after Marco Polo’s return from China, more affordable printed editions emerged, while elitist manuscript production continued. The innovation of the movable type printing press by Johann Gutenberg revolutionized the industry, culminating in the printing of the Bible and the subsequent explosion in printed literature, bridging gaps between classes and stimulating public discourse.
This print revolution transformed reading from an elite activity to one accessible to the masses, fostering new ideas, dissent against authorities, and contributing significantly to pivotal movements such as the Protestant Reformation. The section concludes with the rapid increase in literacy rates and the emergence of new forms of literature, ultimately linking the development of print to broader societal changes.