The Printing Press

Before the printing press, books were copied by hand, which made them rare and expensive.

在印刷機問世之前，書籍都是以手工抄寫，因此既稀少又昂貴。

In the fifteenth century, movable type made it possible to produce texts far more quickly.

十五世紀時，活字印刷讓文字的製作速度大幅加快。

Within decades, millions of books were circulating across Europe.

短短幾十年內，數百萬本書籍便在歐洲各地流通。

This dramatic increase in information helped to spread new scientific and religious ideas.

資訊的這種大幅暴增，有助於傳播新的科學與宗教思想。

Literacy gradually became more common as reading material grew cheaper.

隨著閱讀材料變得便宜，識字率逐漸提升。

Authorities, however, were sometimes alarmed by the rapid circulation of controversial opinions.

然而，當局有時會對爭議性意見的快速散布感到憂心。

Historians often compare the impact of printing to that of the internet today.

歷史學家常將印刷術的影響與現今網際網路的影響相提並論。

Both technologies made it easier to share knowledge, but also to spread misinformation.

這兩種技術都讓知識更容易分享，卻也讓不實資訊更容易散播。

The lesson is that powerful tools always bring both opportunities and risks.

這個教訓告訴我們：強大的工具總是同時帶來機會與風險。