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The Rise Of The Protestant Reformation

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The Protestant Reformation would not have been made possible without the printing press. This innovation allowed ideas to spread further and quicker at rate that was never seen before. Prior to Gutenberg’s invention, the Clergymen held a powerful monopoly over the purchase of books. In spite of that, the press made books cheaper, allowing anyone and everyone to have access to them. As a result, people began to interpret books on their own and have their own independant thoughts which often opposed those of the Church. This was a huge threat to the Church, and as the popularity of the innovation grew, more people distanced themselves from the Church. In addition, the expansion of the University system helped increase the literacy rates because everyone was curious to read these books and gain knowledge from what they were saying. The printing press gave Martin Luther, the most influential figure at the time, a huge advantage.

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