From medieval manuscripts to explosive print culture, this course uncovers censorship, book markets, pamphlets, and changing readerships between 600 and 1650-revealing how texts shaped belief, authority, and society.
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The move from written manuscripts to the printed word and the cultural impact on medieval and early modern society.
What will we cover?
We begin by looking at how written and illuminated manuscripts were produced and the rise of the printing press. We will explore how printing spread across Europe and look at the development of the book trade. We will look at the impact of printing on Early Modern society (1500 x 1650). Could the Reformation have succeeded without the printing press? What about the impact on literacy? What did people read during in the pre-modern age? How did authorities try to impose censorship?
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Explain how books were physically produced between 600-1650.
Analyse manuscripts and early printed books as material objects.
Identify major shifts in authority, readership, and knowledge transmission.
Evaluate whether print was a “revolution.”
Identify 3 major European centres of the book trade in the Early Modern Period
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior knowledge is necessary, but a good understanding of English is essential. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully, in class discussion and debate.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Each week there will be a PowerPoint presentation and a seminar-style discussion of original sources (in translation) pertinent to the topic. You are invited to bring along/describe items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/seen on TV you think may be of interest to the group. You will be encouraged to do homework reading to foster debate
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You need only bring note-taking materials. All necessary reading materials will be provided. A coursebook with bibliography will be provided in class.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might consider enrolling on the next course
HEH111European history: visual arts and the birth of the nation 1500-1850which explores how the visual arts were and are used engender a sense of belonging and create nation states
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/european-history-from-pen-to-print-600-16503062143European history: from Pen to Print 600-1650https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/europe-1848-HEH115-1024.jpg279279GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/European history/Courses/Online courses228511771178118217311228511771178<p>From medieval manuscripts to explosive print culture, this course uncovers censorship, book markets, pamphlets, and changing readerships between 600 and 1650-revealing how texts shaped belief, authority, and society.</p>003062098European history: from Pen to Print 600-1650279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/europe-1848-HEH115-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeFriOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-18T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHEH134279279European history: from Pen to Print 600-1650223181279Vanessa Kingeuropean-history-from-pen-to-print-600-1650/heh134-2627<p>From medieval manuscripts to explosive print culture, this course uncovers censorship, book markets, pamphlets, and changing readerships between 600 and 1650-revealing how texts shaped belief, authority, and society.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-18 00:00:00<p>The move from written manuscripts to the printed word and the cultural impact on medieval and early modern society.</p><p>From medieval manuscripts to explosive print culture, this course uncovers censorship, book markets, pamphlets, and changing readerships between 600 and 1650-revealing how texts shaped belief, authority, and society.</p><p>We begin by looking at how written and illuminated manuscripts were produced and the rise of the printing press. We will explore how printing spread across Europe and look at the development of the book trade. We will look at the impact of printing on Early Modern society (1500 x 1650). Could the Reformation have succeeded without the printing press? What about the impact on literacy? What did people read during in the pre-modern age? How did authorities try to impose censorship? </p><p></p><ol><li>Explain how books were physically produced between 600-1650.</li><li>Analyse manuscripts and early printed books as material objects.</li><li>Identify major shifts in authority, readership, and knowledge transmission.</li><li>Evaluate whether print was a “revolution.”</li><li>Identify 3 major European centres of the book trade in the Early Modern Period</li></ol><p>No prior knowledge is necessary, but a good understanding of English is essential. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully, in class discussion and debate.</p><p>Each week there will be a PowerPoint presentation and a seminar-style discussion of original sources (in translation) pertinent to the topic. You are invited to bring along/describe items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/seen on TV you think may be of interest to the group. You will be encouraged to do homework reading to foster debate</p><p>You need only bring note-taking materials. All <u>necessary</u> reading materials will be provided. A coursebook with bibliography will be provided in class.</p><p></p><p>You might consider enrolling on the next course</p>HEH111European history: visual arts and the birth of the nation 1500-1850which explores how the visual arts were and are used engender a sense of belonging and create nation states<p></p>HistoryEuropean historyvirtual223279181HEH134NONEFri18/09/26 - 04/12/2615:00 - 17:0015:0017:0010 sessions (over 12 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineVanessa KingBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-18T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities279279European history: from Pen to Print 600-1650european-history-from-pen-to-print-600-1650/heh134-2627<p>From medieval manuscripts to explosive print culture, this course uncovers censorship, book markets, pamphlets, and changing readerships between 600 and 1650-revealing how texts shaped belief, authority, and society.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-18 00:00:00<p>The move from written manuscripts to the printed word and the cultural impact on medieval and early modern society.</p><p>From medieval manuscripts to explosive print culture, this course uncovers censorship, book markets, pamphlets, and changing readerships between 600 and 1650-revealing how texts shaped belief, authority, and society.</p><p>We begin by looking at how written and illuminated manuscripts were produced and the rise of the printing press. We will explore how printing spread across Europe and look at the development of the book trade. We will look at the impact of printing on Early Modern society (1500 x 1650). Could the Reformation have succeeded without the printing press? What about the impact on literacy? What did people read during in the pre-modern age? How did authorities try to impose censorship? </p><p></p><ol><li>Explain how books were physically produced between 600-1650.</li><li>Analyse manuscripts and early printed books as material objects.</li><li>Identify major shifts in authority, readership, and knowledge transmission.</li><li>Evaluate whether print was a “revolution.”</li><li>Identify 3 major European centres of the book trade in the Early Modern Period</li></ol><p>No prior knowledge is necessary, but a good understanding of English is essential. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully, in class discussion and debate.</p><p>Each week there will be a PowerPoint presentation and a seminar-style discussion of original sources (in translation) pertinent to the topic. You are invited to bring along/describe items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/seen on TV you think may be of interest to the group. You will be encouraged to do homework reading to foster debate</p><p>You need only bring note-taking materials. All <u>necessary</u> reading materials will be provided. A coursebook with bibliography will be provided in class.</p><p></p><p>You might consider enrolling on the next course</p>HEH111European history: visual arts and the birth of the nation 1500-1850which explores how the visual arts were and are used engender a sense of belonging and create nation states<p></p>HistoryEuropean historyconfigurable
11821178European historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/european-history1/2/285/1177/1178/11821/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/European history
