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Jan 15, 2023Liked by Rupert Cocke

A couple of extra points:

1. Translation of the Bible into the vernacular and dissemination through the the movable type printing press were probably key to the Protestant reformation and probably therefore later atheistic ideas. Once non-Latin speakers were able to see for themselves the true nature of the Bible as a text, they were able to analyse and challenge the Church’s interpretation. Translations such as the Wycliffe and Huss Bibles were available for those few who could access them but Guttenberg’s press allowed much wider dissemination, as well as of the original Greek and Hebrew texts.

2. Muslims could be said to be early adopters of paper technology being responsible for its transmission from China in the 8th century. By contrast, the use of moveable type printing was not welcomed in the Muslim world, partly due to difficulties in reproducing Arabic script and an aesthetic appreciation of the beauty of writing. This was not to change significantly until the 19th century.

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