A New World of Debate — and Fear
Print created the possibility of the wide circulation of ideas and introduced a new world of debate and discussion. Even those who disagreed with established authorities could now print and circulate their ideas and persuade people to think differently.
But not everyone welcomed the printed book. Many feared that easier access to the printed word could have harmful effects: if there was no control over what was printed and read, then rebellious and irreligious thoughts might spread, and the authority of 'valuable' literature would be destroyed. This anxiety — expressed by religious authorities, monarchs and many writers — was the basis of widespread criticism of the new printed literature.
Martin Luther and the Reformation
The power of print is well shown in the sphere of religion. In 1517, the religious reformer Martin Luther wrote the Ninety Five Theses criticising the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, and a printed copy was posted on a church door in Wittenberg. Luther's writings were immediately reproduced in vast numbers and read widely, leading to a division within the Church and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Luther's translation of the New Testament sold 5,000 copies within weeks. Deeply grateful, Luther said, 'Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one.' Many scholars believe that print created a new intellectual atmosphere and helped spread the ideas that led to the Reformation.
Print, Dissent and the Index of Prohibited Books
Print and popular religious literature also stimulated individual interpretations of faith even among the little-educated. In the sixteenth century, Menocchio, a miller in Italy, read books available locally and reinterpreted the message of the Bible, forming a view of God and Creation that enraged the Roman Catholic Church. When the Church began its Inquisition to repress heresy, Menocchio was hauled up twice and ultimately executed.
Troubled by such popular questioning of faith, the Roman Church imposed severe controls over publishers and booksellers and began to maintain an Index of Prohibited Books from 1558. (The scholar Erasmus too feared that the flood of printed books would spread 'stupid, ignorant, slanderous and seditious' works.)
Questions and Answers
Q1. Why did some people fear the coming of print? Ans. They feared that if there was no control over what was printed and read, then rebellious and irreligious ideas might spread, and the authority of 'valuable' literature would be destroyed. This anxiety was voiced by religious authorities, monarchs and many writers.
Q2. Why was Martin Luther in favour of print? Ans. Because print spread his ideas rapidly: his Ninety Five Theses (1517) and other writings were reproduced in vast numbers, and his New Testament sold 5,000 copies in weeks — helping start the Reformation. Grateful, Luther said, 'Printing is the ultimate gift of God.'
Questions and Answers (continued)
Q3. Who was Menocchio and what happened to him? Ans. Menocchio was a miller in sixteenth-century Italy who read books and reinterpreted the Bible, forming views of God and Creation that enraged the Roman Catholic Church. During the Inquisition, he was hauled up twice and ultimately executed.
Q4. Why did the Roman Catholic Church begin an Index of Prohibited Books from 1558? Ans. Troubled by the way popular readings led ordinary people to question faith (as in Menocchio's case), the Church imposed severe controls over publishers and booksellers and maintained an Index of Prohibited Books to stop the spread of ideas it considered heretical.
Questions and Answers (continued)
Q5. How did print help bring about the Protestant Reformation? Ans. Print allowed Martin Luther's criticism of the Church (the Ninety Five Theses) to be reproduced and read widely, creating a new intellectual atmosphere and spreading new religious ideas that led to a division in the Church — the Protestant Reformation.