"The printing press [invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1440s] accelerated the spread of knowledge. That's generally a good thing. But it had downsides as well. It also accelerated the spread of what you could reasonably politely call propaganda and what you could less politely call manipulative, destructive lies. Also, the spread of knowledge had unanticipated knock-on effects. The Catholic Church was thrilled with the power of the press when the innovation helped raise cash for the Church's crusades."
"Perhaps it was less thrilled when the press provided propaganda for both sides in Mainz's 1462 civil war. And, of course, many Church leaders likely cursed the technology the Church had helped create when rapid printing hastened Martin Luther's ability to spread the ninety-five points of disagreement he had with the Church, sparking the Reformation that splintered the Catholic Church's influence. A third of the books printed in Germany from 1518 and 1525 were from Luther."
The printing press dramatically accelerated the dissemination of knowledge and ideas, creating major benefits for scientists, entrepreneurs, and reformers. The technology also amplified propaganda and manipulative lies, producing unanticipated knock-on effects. The Catholic Church initially benefited by raising funds and distributing Bibles, but the same press enabled opposing propaganda during Mainz's civil war and allowed Martin Luther to rapidly spread his ninety-five points, catalyzing the Reformation and fracturing Church influence. The innovation produced clear winners and losers, empowering new actors while undermining professions and institutions that had profited from limited information flow.
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