from a single point of origin, mainz, germany, printing spread within several decades to over two hundred cities
in a dozen european countries. by 1500, printing presses in operation throughout western europe had already
produced more than twenty million volumes. in the 16th century, with presses spreading further afield, their output
rose tenfold to an estimated 150 to 200 million copies. the operation of a press became so synonymous
with the enterprise of printing that it lent name to an entire new branch of media, the press.
in renaissance europe, the arrival of mechanical movable type printing introduced the era of mass communication which permanently altered the
structure of society. the relatively unrestricted circulation of political and religious authorities.
the sharp increase in literacy broke the monopoly of the literate elite on education and learning and bolstred the emerging middle class.
Answer TRUE or NOT GIVEN:
1. By the beginning of the 16th century, the printing press was in use in sevsral different countries.
2. The printing press was popular because it was so easy to operate.
3. Movable type printing can be linked to a rise in the number of people who could read and write.
4. printing had a negative effect on the middle classes.