Among all technological improvements invented throughout history, the printing press has been the most beneficial to society.   The printing press led to providing information for the masses.  A more efficient way of mass-producing manuscripts provided by the printing press aided this spread of knowledge.  Movable type helped scientists of the time to provide more accurate information.  The identical reports made by the printing press offered widespread reports on scientific ideals.  The printing press enabled the emergence of culture because of the ease it provided for authors.  The stress of handwriting all texts was alleviated by the printing press and aided the want of a vast spread of an author’s work.  The printing press not only provided an easier means of producing information for the masses not only at the time following its invention but also in current society.

 Prior to the invention of the printing press around 1440, printed information and literacy had been reserved for the elite. Requiring the handwriting of books and texts made books scarce and more expensive.  Books, being less expensive because of faster production, could be afforded by the masses.  Since the first usage of the printing press, more and more books have been invented.  This has influenced current society to not only improve upon the basic innovation of the printing press but to invent alternative publishing methods.  Although there were no books stores during the fifteenth century, book stores during the twenty-first century hold a wide variety of books printed in a fashion inspired by the printing press invented by Johannes Gutenberg.  In this sense, literacy is being spread in the same manner it was centuries ago.  Apart from simply providing the masses with information, the printing press also allowed for the spread of scientific ideals.

 Scientific information dating before the 1440s when the printing press was invented needed to be recorded by hand or other time consuming methods.  This led to inaccuracies in collected data and theories from copy to copy of recorded experiments or hypotheses.  The hassle of handwriting each copy also hindered the expansion of such ideals until this irksome process was eliminated by the printing press.  Identical copies of the same information could be produced quickly and accurately.  Apart from the more concrete theories in science, philosophy also could be printed in large quantities.  This allowed books such as the Bible to be mass produced, spreading religion and philosophy.  The remaining texts from the fifteenth century are cherished reminders of the beginning of a scientific revolution and can be looked upon as windows into the past.  Differentiating from simply producing many accurate copies of scientific texts, movable type spurred an emergence of culture. 

Because of the tedious process of creating books, most texts prior to movable type’s invention were religious manuscripts handwritten by a member of the clergy.  This eliminated the existence of literature written by artistic minds of the fifteenth century and earlier.  Beginning with Gutenberg’s Bible and spreading to other texts, a culture was emerging, spurred by movable type’s contribution to producing more books.  A Bible allowed families to practice religion in the comforts of their own homes.  Other books written by authors of the time could be mass produced and identical copies of their masterpieces could be transported to other locations. Spreading their ideas and prose aided in creating a culture the same way authors of current society contribute to the culture.  The Venetian Gazette is one of the earliest newspapers printed with Gutenberg’s printing press.  The existence of newspapers showed not only the ability to spread information to the masses but also to be able to spread scientific finds and the work of authors; all of these ideals added to the milieu, creating an environment rich with available culture.

Gutenberg supplied us with a lasting gift which would produce bountiful benefits that are still celebrated today. It can be said that the new availability of information was the beginnings of democracy.  A more informed population could be more aware of their oppression and begin to express their grievances eloquently.  Science was revolutionized with the ability to mass produce data and philosophy.  Having books by different authors available led to the creation of a culture which can still be looked upon. The ease in which the printing press’ movable type could be utilized to spread local and regional news farther than simply word of mouth.  The invention of the printing press reaped benefits during its initial years of use, but it also set a precedent.  It guaranteed the masses their right to obtain books, giving them an opportunity to obtain culture and knowledge through the works of different authors, scientists, philosophers, and journalists alike.