How The Influence Of The First Printing Press

German scholars from the nineteenth century translated ancient Indian texts when they noticed similarities between their own language and Sanskrit. They believed that Indians and Germans shared common ancestry, known as the Aryans. German poet Guido von List misinterpreted this information and proposed to use the symbol for all anti- Semitic organizations. Adolf Hitler, an artist by profession, admired the artistry of the swastika. When he joined politics in 1919, he adopted it as the official symbol for the National Socialist Party. It was incorporated into the national flag of the Third Reich in 1935. Soon the black straight-armed hooked cross on the white circle and red background became the most feared and hated symbol of the twentieth

A symbol that was once used to depict devotion is now an international icon used to express defiance, resistance, unity and strength around the world. It is intriguing to see how a single icon can resonate with multiple ideologies through time. Visual symbols have played a significant role in altering history. The two examples above provide insight into how icons can be manipulated to influence and ignite the masses for various social and political

Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press in 1436. Before the printing press, carved inked wooden blocks were used to make an impression on paper. This was a highly time consuming process which resulted in only a few people having access to information. Due to the high cost and lack of availability, only the church and nobility owned books. When Gutenberg put his press to commercial use, he started producing thousands of books for the Church. The following year he printed the famous forty-two-line bible, the first book printed using moveable type. Gutenberg’s invention was a turning point in the way information was collected, catalogued and