Print Culture and the Modern World

(i) Fear of negative thoughts : Many were of the opinion that printed words and the wider circulation of books, would have a negative impact on people's minds.
(ii) Rebellious and irreligious thoughts : They feared that if there was no control over what was printed and read, then rebellious and irreligious thoughts might gain importance.
(iii) Destruction of valuable literature :
There was also a fear in the minds of scholars that the authority of ‘valuable' literature would be destroyed.
(iv) Criticism of Roman Catholic Church : Martin Luther was a German monk, priest, professor and a Church reformer. In 1517, he wrote Ninety Five Theses and openly criticized many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. This led to a division within the Church, and led to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation,
(v) Compilation of ancient and medieval scientific text : The ideas of scientists and philosophers now became more accessible to the common people. Ancient and Medieval scientific texts were compiled and published, and maps and scientific diagrams were widely printed. When scientists like Issac Newton began to public their discoveries, they could influence a much wider circle of scientifically minded readers. The writings of thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau were also widely printed and read. Thus their ideas about science, reason and rationality found their way into popular literature.