A bull of excommunication was issued in 1501, by Alexander VI., against printers who should publish pernicious doctrines.
In 1515 the Lateran Council ordered that no books should be printed but such as had been inspected by the ecclesiastical censors, under pain of excommunication and fine; the censors being directed "to take the utmost care that nothing should be printed contrary to the orthodox faith." There was thus a dread of religious discussion; a terror lest truth should emerge.
But these frantic struggles of the powers of ignorance were unavailing.
Intellectual intercommunication among men was secured.

It culminated in the modern newspaper, which daily gives its contemporaneous intelligence from all parts of the world.

Reading became a common occupation.

In ancient society that art was possessed by comparatively few persons.
Modern society owes some of its most striking characteristics to this change.
EFFECTS OF MARITIME ENTERPRISE.

Such was the result of bringing into Europe the manufacture of paper and the printing-press.