unit 1: what were the main challenges to traditional popular culture? Flashcards
peter burke
the main threat to traditional popular culture came from the elites, who were the determined to control society and popular culture for religious, social, economic and political reasons
lutheran and tyndale published in the 15th century
> written in common german
translating the bible was revolutionary as it placed the bible into the hands of unprecedented numbers of people
book of faith, history, literature, poetry and prophecy
only previously accessible to the elite and the clergy
impact/intervention of printing
> pamphlets, religious tacts - widespread dissemination
texts were illustrated with woodcuts which reinforced the message and made print more accessible to unlearned readers
a fine library was a symbol of status among the social elites (15th century)
6000 - 1630s, 21,000 - 1710, printing began in william caxton’s workshop in 1476, 400 titles were published in the first decade of 16th century
invention of printing led to reproduction of books. 1500 - 1000 printing shops in europe.
was there a print revolution?
> some scholars claim that the revolution from a hand written and oral culture to a print culture had a major impact on all aspects of european life
elizabeth eisenstein 1979 claimed the new ‘print culture’ changed the early modern world by shaping the processors we call the renaissance, reformation and the scientific revolution
case against a print revolution
> print could be used to distort
literacy rates only improved slowly, e.g southern europe
scholars see the press as intrinsic to the reformation
printing did not necessarily undermine the role of traditional authority
reluctance to place the emphasis on one new technological development
workshops of medieval scribes already printed large numbers of books and manuscripts
case for a print revolution
> many people became literature. by 1630 a third were literature
reduced the costs of copying texts
print became an essential skill for many urban jobs
affordability of books transformed education
5000 editions were printed across europe - 5 million
printing assisted the dissemination of knowledge
