The Reformation Movement In Germany Essay

The Reformation movement in Germany was consolidated by the printed book in a new pamphlet format called Flugschriften. The movement in its leader Luther found scholarly guidance and charisma and quickly generated a strong public demand. Luther’s ideas covering a range of topics including theological issues, satire, and homiletic sermon found a new audience outside the clerical world. For the first time, the religious debate became popular among commoners, putting a huge demand on the print industry. The phenomenal response from the public pushed many entrepreneurs to set up print shops. As a result, Wittenberg, where the reformation began, became one of the most important printing centers in Germany. In response to the widespread acceptance of Luther’s evangelical ideas, Germany witnessed the establishment of a new print industry. This new industry was entrepreneurial, closely followed and responded to the market demands, and readily experimented with profitable publications such as the Flugschriften. Pettegree and Hall contend that the Reformation created a book industry where printing became more than just an intellectual process (786). It included artisans, typesetters, proofreaders, pressmen, papermakers, merchants, bookbinders, booksellers, salesmen, contractors, and boatmen. The book became “an industrial

Apart from a strong print industry, a charismatic leader is necessary for pushing the forces of production. The print in sixteenth century Europe supported the spread of both Catholic and Protestant ideas and was particularly affected the local polity. Lastly, Reformation also flourished in the absence of the print as was the case in France where the role of song outdid the role of illustration and