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What Was The Printing Press Dbq Essay

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(Hook) There have been many milestones that have changed human communication, from the invention of sign language to the development of the internet. (Bridge) One of those milestones was the Printing Press. (Background) The Printing Press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany during the year 1450. By 1500, more than 20 million books were printed. He used movable metal type to create a machine to print books. The Printing press made books cheaper and increased the literacy rate in Europe. More people started to take interest in other subjects such as geography and religion. The Printing Press also resulted in two consequences: The Protestant Reformation and the Age of Exploration. (Thesis) I believe that the Age of Exploration was the more important result of the Printing Press. (Topic Sentence #1) The Printing …show more content…

(CD #1) For example, the letter from Columbus on Document D shows how Columbus discovered new lands. It was written on his return voyage from the Americas. The letter states, “where I found many islands inhabited by men without number.” Because of the Printing Press, his letter quickly spread throughout Europe and was translated into many languages such as Spanish, Latin, German and French. When people read it, they were compelled to explore the world further. (CM #1) I believe that Columbus’s discoveries led to more people exploring the world. This also caused the discovery of many countries, such as the Americas. If the Printing Press didn’t exist, the letter wouldn’t have gone viral and people wouldn’t have felt the need to explore further. America wouldn’t have been discovered. (CD #2) Another example is the maps on Document E. The map on the top was made in 1489 by Henricus Martellus, and it isn’t very detailed. However, the map below was made in 1507 by Martin Waldseemuller, and it is more accurate. In fact, it was the “first known map to record the existence of the American continents.” Many

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