World-Changing Innovations: Five Brilliant Ideas That Shaped Our Future
When Johannes Gutenberg introduced the printing press in the mid-fifteenth century, the world took its first step toward democratizing knowledge. Before this invention, books were painstakingly copied by hand, accessible only to the wealthy elite or religious scholars . With movable type, texts could be reproduced quickly and inexpensively, ensuring that ideas spread far beyond the walls of monasteries. The press did more than print words; it ignited revolutions in education, science, and politics by making information widely available. Moreover, the ripple effect of this technology transformed societies across Europe and, eventually, the globe. Literacy rates soared as ordinary citizens gained access to texts that had previously been unreachable. In turn, movements like the Reformation and the Enlightenment thrived, mainly because people could read, reflect, and challenge long-standing traditions. Thus, the printing press did not simply introduce books to the masses—it reshaped human ...