Printing Press In 1450

The moveable type printing press was invented in 1450 and by 1500 it had spread through most of western Europe to the extent where societies became more dependent on it than scribal work.1 This remarkable expansion has had numerous effects on the development of science and technology in European societies. The reasons that this expansion had such a major impact was that it allowed for language standardization, the Protestant Reformation and the wide adoption of specific scientific techniques such as double-entry bookkeeping.
Originating in Mainz,2 Gutenberg’s invention of movable type press was rapidly diffused within 50 years.3 By 1470, at least 14 cities in Europe had printing offices and from 1470 to 1480 more than 100 cities in Europe
in 1616, as well as being placed on house arrest for disobeying the interdict by the following pope, Urban VIII in 1633.8 Therefore, by facilitating Protestant Reformation, the printing press indirectly created a society that was more accepting to scientific
Asia) and large-scale trade.10 Another way the printing press abetted the spread of the double entry technique is by increasing the availability of its instruction through a surplus of inexpensive texts addressing the technique.4 According to Fernand Braudel, as mentioned in Mills’ article, there were 1,200 boys in Florence studying accounting and arithmetic up until the age of 15 during which the population of the city was less than 100,000.4 This was a large number of students and proved that education was valued, especially reading, writing and arithmetic.4 The printing press was responsible for this emphasis on education as it allowed for the spread of grammar and