Part 3/14:
Approximately 500 years ago, the printing press revolutionized the dissemination of information. By drastically reducing the costs and time associated with printing, it made books accessible beyond the elite classes, fueling literacy and broadening the spread of ideas. This catalyzed monumental shifts such as Martin Luther’s Reformation, which challenged church authority, and the Enlightenment, which championed ideas of equality before the law.
The printing press's effect was to fragment traditional powers—religious and monarchical—by enabling mass circulation of dissenting ideas. Over centuries, this led to societal transformations culminating in revolutions and the reshaping of political systems, exemplified by France’s transition from monarchy to republic.