- Literacy – The ability to effectively comprehend and use written
symbol.
- With coming of literacy, the social cultural rules and structures began
to change because people could accumulate a permanent body of
knowledge, and transmit it from generation to another.
- Power and influence now rested with those who were literate.
- The Gutenberg revolution opened the window to modernisation. It
allowed mass communication.
The impact of print
- Written communication was available to a much larger portion of the
population
- The need for literacy among the lower and middle class grew
- New ideas germinated and spread and cross-pollination of ideas
occurred.
- Development and entrenchment of capitalism were speeding up.