Listen&Learn: The History of Printing
12th January 2022 by Jaksyn Peacock
Pre-listening vocabulary
- print: to transfer text to paper mechanically
- carve: to cut shapes into something
- character: a letter or symbol in a written language
- revolutionize: to change something completely
- accessible: easy for people to get or use
- prompt: to cause something to happen
Listening activity
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25 — 1.3MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | More
Gapfill exercise
Comprehension questions
[wp_quiz id=”20775″]Discussion/essay questions
- How has our access to information changed in recent years? How do you think it will continue to change in the future?
Transcript
Printing has shaped the world in many ways. The first printed texts date back to 6th century China, when monks printed messages using carved wood and ink. In the 11th century, a Chinese inventor named Bi Sheng created a moveable type press, which made it easier to quickly copy texts. However, Bi Sheng’s invention did not become immediately popular. This was because it was difficult to include enough Chinese characters to communicate every kind of message. Around 300 years later, German inventor Johannes Gutenberg developed a printing press for European languages. The Gutenberg press revolutionized written information in Europe. It made books, news, and religious texts accessible to everyone. This spread of information also prompted many more technological advancements throughout history.