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Government over time has attempted to control information amd history was part of this. This was relatively simple when the laborious process of creating manusripts limited the number of texts and few people could read. The invention of printing by Johannes Gutenberg (1456) and the Protestant Reformation (1519) which encourage people to learn to read changed everything. The Catholic attempt to limit the reading of the Bible failed. This did not prevent rulers from attempting to control what was published. This proved to be very difficult, especially in Protestant countries. The Inquisition proved more successful in Catholic countries. The turning point in Western civilization occurred in England. It began after the Restoration in coffeehouses. King Charles II had a more open attitude than Cromwell. One result was the appeatance of coffee houses. The Government began publishing the Official Gazettee (1665). At the time a license was needed to publish, but Parliament involved in disputes with the King refused to renew Licensing Act. A a result all linds of broadsheets and newspapers began to appear. Coffee houses became places where politics and other issues were discussed. And a propriter would subscribe to some of the newspapers for clients to rread. Among those issues was economics and commerce. It soon becamne apparent that information that affected prices had commercial value. And then a coffee house keeper managed to get a clerk in Parliament to provide him informaion. King Charles attempted to supress coffee houses. Parliament voted to prohibit the printed listing of votes. But after the Glorious Revolution (1688-89) there would be no real attempt to censor news and public debate. The same occurred in Enland's American colonies and was confirmed by the Zenger trial (1735). European monarchs continue to censor with varying successes. The ability to control information was seen as an indicator of success. Ironically it was the Anglo-Americans with a free press that constantly prevailed in military and ecomnomic conflicts. The issue of censorship at first dealt primarily with religion and current events. In the 20th century, the totalitarian powers also focused on history.
Government over time has attempted to control information amd history was part of this. In Europe during th midevil era, itvwas primarily the Church thatwas ibvolved in censorship. This was relatively simple when the laborious process of creating manusrips limiterd the number of texts and few people could read. And the Church was ableto silence early reformers by butng them at the stke before their ideas could spread. Men like Jan Hus in Bohenia and and Jon Wycliff in England suffeed this horrible fate. T his of course reduced the number of reformers willing to challenge the Church.
The invention of printing by Johannes Gutenberg (1450s) was a game changer. Gutenberg's press funamentally altered Western civilization. Suddnly, any onewuth amodest investment could print. This greatly facilitated the spred of ideas. At first the Church did not fully understad this. And Gutenberg's dforst commission was a papal bull. Spreading new ideas was not what the Church wanted. Pope Alexander VI threatened excommunication to anone publishin without papal appoval. But by this time, printing presse wereoperating all over Europe. This alone would have weakened the Church's ability to restrictvthe spread of idea. But a second issue arose. Sevral northern German princes within the Holy Roman Empire wanted to build a nation state and if not break free of imperial control, at least weaken it. AndLuther prsented an opportunity to do so. Many were alo disturbed y te vast dums the Chucgh wasraking in from the sale of indulgences. And Gutenberg'prining press had spred his ides to a far greater extent than earlier failed reformners.
Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the Church door (1517). Without intending to do, he launched the Protestant Reformation (1517) which encourage people to learn to read changed everything. The Catholic attempt to quash the Reformation and limit the reading of the Bible failed. The Churcg wanted to get their hands on Luther and burn him at the stake like lier queresome reforners. But hey were unable to do so because he was protected by the northrn princes. And if that ws not bad enough, other reformers like Calvin began printing Prrtestat tracts outside of Germany men like John Calvin (French) , Huldrych Zwingli (Swiss), and John Knox (Scotland). The issuewas further complivate when King Henry VIII, formerly apluded as 'defender of the faith,' decided to break away from the Catholic churchnd form his own church when Pope Pope Clement VII refused to grant him a divorce. Henry did not bject to Catholic teachings, but slowly the urch ofEnglan begn moving in a Protestant direction.
The difficulties of controlling the printed word did not prevent rulers from attempting to do so and control what was published. This proved to be very difficult, especially in Protestant countries. The Inquisition proved more successful in Catholic countries.
The turning point in Western civilization occurred in England. It began after the Restoration in coffeehouses. King Charles II had a more open attitude than Cromwell. One result was the appeatance of coffee houses. The Government began publishing the Official Gazettee (1665). At the time a license was needed to publish, but Parliament involved in disputes with the King refused to renew Licensing Act. A a result all linds of broadsheets and newspapers began to appear. Coffee houses became places where politics and other issues were discussed. And a propriter would subscribe to some of the newspapers for clients to rread. Among those issues was economics and commerce. It soon becamne apparent that information that affected prices had commercial value. And then a coffee house keeper managed to get a clerk in Parliament to provide him informaion. King Charles attempted to supress coffee houses. Parliament voted to prohibit the printed listing of votes. But after the Glorious Revolution (1688-89) there would be no real attempt to censor news and public debate.
The same occurred in Enland's American colonies and was confirmed by the Zenger trial (1735). This and English Common Law became the foundation for civil libreties in America.
European monarchs continue to censor with varying successes. The ability to control information was seen as an indicator of success. Ironically it was the Anglo-Americans with a free press that constantly prevailed in military and ecomnomic conflicts.
The issue of censorship at first dealt primarily with religion and current events. In the 20th century, the totalitarian powers also focused on history.
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