the development of movable type and the evolution of printing

The Development of Movable Type

and the Evolution of

Printing

Where we left off…• The Egyptians had

developed a primitive form of alphabet called “Hieroglyphics” and were using pen and ink to communicate on plant based papers.

What comes after writing?

Movable Type

• Invented by the Chinese around 1100 B.C.

•Used originally as “chops”, signature printings of an artist’s name.

By 500 B.C….

One of the first complete intact works printed using movable type, “The Diamond Sutra”

Korea A.D. 868

Meanwhile, back in the West (Europe)…

Preservation of Knowledge during the Dark Ages

• Most knowledge preserved in the West was done in Churches.

The Chinese were using Movable Type and Parchment

Paper at this time.

What were the Europeans writing on?

Vellum• A type of parchment made from cured

animal skins, known for its flexibility and durability, used for making the pages of books.

The Illuminated Manuscript• Developed by the

Celts,starting in roughly 400 A.D.

• Characterized by complex geometric designs and interwoven letters and graphics, designed to tell a story.

Illuminated Manuscript Samples

• “The Book of Durrow”, A.D. 680

Illuminated Manuscript Samples

• “Comments on the Psalms” 1200 A.D.

Europe, circa 1424 A.D.

The Birth of the Renaissance• At around 1400-1500

A.D., there is a sudden drastic increase in the search for knowledge.

• Universities open and people begin to want to learn.

The Great Cambridge Library • In A.D. 1424, the

entire collection of the University Library of Cambridge holds 122 manuscript books.

• (compare this to the Library of Alexandria…)

Comparisons of two great libraries:

• Year= 300 B.C.• 700,000 Papyrus

Scrolls

• Year= 1424 A.D.• 122 Manuscript Books

Why so few books?

• A simple 200 page manuscript took 5-6 months to scribe.

• The 25 pages of sheepskin used for vellum to create a book were more expensive than the scribe.

Is there any progress in Europe?

• The “Woodblock Print” made its way from China to Europe around 1300 A.D.

One of the First Objects Created from Woodblocks in Europe…

The Guy Who “Changes” Everything

The Gutenberg Printing Press

• Developed in Germany in A.D. 1450

Early Printed Works Were….

A Quick Comparison

China- 500 B.C.

Germany- 1450 A.D.

Korea- 868 A.D.

So the Question is…

Who Invented Printing?

Your Assignment:

“The Woodblock Problem”