The printing art as the engine of the Enlightenment: a Europe -wide research project

The printing art as the engine of the Enlightenment: a Europe -wide research project

The invention of the printing pressure in the 15th century has revolutionized the way knowledge is spread. With this groundbreaking technology, texts could be printed in large quantities, which enabled a quick exchange of ideas. This laid the foundation for the modern public, which has developed in this form to this day. An exciting research project that analyzes the effects of this invention will soon start in Central Europe.

The progress of Johannes Gutenberg was replaced by the laborious written of manuscripts. This led to a global spread of knowledge, similar to the later revolution of the Internet. An interdisciplinary network of scientists examines the complex interactions between pressure and public since the 16th century as part of the EU-financed cost action "Print Culture and Public Spheres in Central Europe (1500–1800). Marion Romberg from the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and Mona Garloff from the University of Innsbruck are the initiators of this project.

The research project at a glance

The project begins at the beginning of October and has set itself the goal of documenting the changes that the book pressure brought with it in the early modern period. "The creation of various media such as newspapers, books and music made it possible that the public could not only arise, but also had a massive impact on the education," explains Garloff. They will concentrate on the period from the 16th to the late 18th century and overcome the national borders in the analysis.

The idea of ​​the public is broadly grasped by the two researchers, including the people who could not read. "There are many people who still took part in the printed media, be it through reading aloud or the mutual storytelling of content," explains Garloff. In fact, according to reports, 30 to 40 people have often participated in the spread of a single leaflet because this was shared about different channels.

Both organized public libraries as well as marketplaces and churches played a role in spreading knowledge. An example of an early public library is the first in Innsbruck founded under Maria Theresia. These institutions contributed to the fact that knowledge was also shared and distributed across national borders. The researchers consider the Europe -wide circulation of writings as a decisive factor for the exchange of ideas that had a lasting impact on social life.

networking in research

The project is not just a classic research company, but is supported as part of the EU funding program COST. The aim of this program is to create a network that brings scientists together from various disciplines to research a common topic. Conferences, workshops and other networking activities are planned over a period of four years to promote cooperation.

At the end of the project, the researchers hope to publish a comprehensive compendium that summarizes the results of the various working groups, as well as a database with digital resources on book history in the countries involved. The network itself should also continue to grow in order to offer experts the opportunity to exchange ideas about a relevant topic.

The research will not only shed light on the history of the book pressure, but also its far-reaching influence on the development of public spheres and the exchange of knowledge in Central Europe. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on www.oeaw.ac.at .