Light

The printing press market for books and print material

Definition

This refers to the surge in demand and production of books and other printed materials following the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century.

Analogy

Think of it like when smartphones were first introduced. Before, only a few people had access to certain features like internet browsing or digital photography. But with smartphones, these features became widely available, leading to an explosion in demand and production.

Related terms

Gutenberg Bible: The first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe.

Renaissance Humanism: A cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought which was largely spread through printed materials.

Reformation: A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church but resulted in the creation of Protestant churches; its ideas were also spread through printed materials.