The Influence Of The Printing Press

While the Printing press was a new innovation it didn’t not invent the book. Instead before the pressing press, manuscript books were used in medieval Europe. The printing press was invented in Mainz part of the Holy Roman Empire in the fifteenth century. The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in around 1440 to 1450. One of the first books to be printed was the Gutenberg Bible in the middle of the 1450’s. The success of Gutenberg’s printing press is viewed by many as the most influential invention during this time. The printing press is often see as an agent of change, fueling some of the biggest developments occurring during this time and the centuries to come. Printing aided in the development of the biggest events in the time,

The event considered to have begun the protestant reformation was the publication of Luther’s Ninety-five Theses in 1517, this outlines Luther’s opposition of the Pope and the Catholic Church. In the Ninety-five Theses Luther particularly criticizes the selling of indulgences by the Pope and Catholic Church, indulgences sold by the Church were seen as offering the possibility to reduce time spent in Purgatory for your sins. Luther was against selling and making money from indulgences as he believed it was wrong to lead people to believe that a monetary contributions and material belongings could allow them to avoid purgatory as the Pope did not have the authority to provide this pardon, only God was able to allow this. Luther’s view of indulgences is shown in number 89 from his Ninety-five thesis ‘Since the pope seeks the salvation of souls rather than money by his indulgences, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons previously granted when they have equal efficacy?' Luther points out the contradiction of selling indulgences to people and continually selling them more as should one not suffice to avoid purgatory, he essentially views the Pope as concerned with monetary benefits rather than saving people from purgatory as promised. Printing enabled Luther’s Ninety- five thesis and the change it was to bring to be fully realized as it enabled it to reach a wider audience and increased the speed of its spreading. Printing allowed Luther and the protestant reformation to be able to make clear its values and ideals, such as Sola Scriptura (Bible is the Sole Authority for Doctrine), Sola Fide (Faith alone) and that Protestantism is the priesthood of all believers. Through the ability of printings reach Luther was able to grow a support base. Religious reform was built on the foundation of printing as it relied on bibles and theological scholarship which