Printing Press

The development of the printing press has not merely made producing copies cheaper, it has brought changes to the world that nobody could have predicted.

— Brother Greeley, scribe of the Caelester Abbey

The printing press, developed around two hundred years ago, has ushered in an era of change. Where once one had to hand write individual copies for every recipient of a missive, one can now make hundreds or thousands of copies for not much more than the cost of the paper it's printed on. In some cities, this improved affordability, combined with a broad increase in literacy as more reading material becomes available, lords have begun funding a broadsheet to provide news to their subjects, supplementing or even replacing the traditional role of Town Crier.

Consequences

Academic Catalyst

The ability to produce hundreds of copies of tomes of lore has been a tremendous boon to scholars. Previously, such books were rare, being hoarded away in monastaries. Now, though, monastaries have begun printing their collections, producing loan copies that they allow to be borrowed from their libraries as well as selling prints to the public, making them much more available for scholarly study.

This kickstarted a new era of learning. The Nobility in many countries have invested in large collections for their scholars, and some have even made portions of their collections open to the general public. Printing presses have also enabled faster communication of new ideas between scholars, enabling collaborations across astonishing distances and rapid dissemination of experimental results.

Cultural Development

Printers also began producing a variety of cultural works, publishing collections of stories, poetry, stage plays, and even music. This has spurred a far greater interest in literacy among the general public. Where before, most only learned their letters well enough to take simple notes, now there is an interest in reading, analyzing and understanding more complex narratives. Similarly, where folk musicians one learned to play exclusively by ear, the world of written music is now far more accessible to the average musician, bringing compositions once only heard in higher class society to the masses.

While most of these developments happen within cultural bounds, peddlers often stock a small collection of popular works to introduce to a new audience down the road. This has resulted in a slow spread of stories, music, poetry and plays between countries and cultural groups.

Navigational Improvements

Printing presses have allowed for great improvements in navigational tools as well. The first big change was the publication of the Sailor's Almanac, a collection of local weather patterns and hazards to watch for, indexed by region and route. This helps captains and their crews to more accurately read changes in the weather and the seas on their voyages, greatly improving both safety and speed over relying purely on memory. The later invention of the chart printer - a modified printing press designed to copy a chart carved in metal onto a sheet of paper - allowed duplication of complex navigational charts. While producing each individual chart stamp is an extremely laborious process, being able to produce duplicate, high quality charts has made the modern age of navigation possible.