Prior to the invention of the printing press, all books were handcrafted through time-consuming hand-copying processes such as manuscript writing or block printing. This limited production capacity could not meet the demand for a large-scale distribution of books. Manuscripts were rare, precious, and often produced as one-of-a-kind items.
2. High cost of production:
The production of manuscripts involved specialized skills, materials, and labor, which made them very expensive. The cost of parchment, vellum, ink, and other materials, coupled with the time and labor required for skilled scribes to copy texts, rendered books unaffordable for most people.
3. Dominance of religious institutions:
During medieval times, the primary centers for book production were monasteries and religious institutions. Libraries were mostly associated with churches, noble courts, or universities, and access to these collections was limited to scholars, monks, and the elite. The general public had little opportunity to access these valuable resources.
4. Lack of literacy:
Another significant barrier that limited widespread access to books was the general lack of literacy among the population. During the pre-printing era, the majority of people were illiterate, and only a small percentage of society, mainly scholars and religious figures, possessed the ability to read and write.
With the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, these barriers to book access were gradually overcome. The printing press enabled mass production of books, reducing costs and making them affordable to a broader segment of society. Furthermore, the spread of literacy and the growing demand for knowledge helped to increase the availability of books, democratizing access to literature, information, and education for the general population.