Print Culture
Definition
Print culture refers to the cultural transformation that occurred as written texts became more widely available with the advent of printing technology.
Analogy
It's like going from having only one TV in your town, where everyone has to watch the same thing, to everyone having their own smartphone where they can access a world of information and entertainment. That's how transformative print culture was.
Related terms
Gutenberg’s Printing Press: Invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440, this machine revolutionized print culture by making it easier and cheaper to produce books.
Literacy Rates: The percentage of people who are able to read and write. With the rise of print culture, literacy rates generally increased as more people had access to printed materials.
Enlightenment Era: A period from late 17th century to late 18th century characterized by emphasis on reason, individualism and skepticism towards traditional social institutions. Print culture played a significant role in spreading Enlightenment ideas.
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