Diffusion Theory

     Diffusion theory is a theory on how ideas grow to become the things we know and love today. So many examples can be explained through this theory like Apple iPhones, Twitter, and TikTok but today I will focus on an older invention the printing press. 

    Why did this invention catch and spread? 

This invention spread so quickly because it was the first of its time to be able to print books at the rate it did. Before the printing press, everything was by hand so it was prone to human mistakes and took years to write. After the printing press was made everyone was able to have books because of how plentiful and affordable they were. This was how people of that time found ideas and information so it spread across the world. 

    

    Why did so many people become early adopters? 

People were tired of only being able to get information through word of mouth. To get news they would have to stand in the square and someone would announce the news. This isn't very reliable because of human mistakes and misunderstandings. Through books, people were able to read news, gather information, and have entertainment from all over the world in many different languages.  Also back then people were very religious so a lot of people wanted the bible. 

   

  There are always late adopters when it comes to any invention. People who think their way is better and they don't want to change from tradition. Some people wouldn't participate in getting books because they don't think it is needed because they have word of mouth but eventually almost everyone in the entire world used the printing press or benefitted from it. 

 

    There were some negative impacts from the printing press too. Misinformation was able to spread faster and farther across the world. They also were able to read about ideas from all over the world so this led to riots and them wanting change. They started to challenge the authority. 

    The positive greatly outweighs the negative. The Renaissance was able to kick off as big as it did because of the printing press and people on the completely opposite sides of the world from each other were able to share ideas and discoveries. It was also such a big invention that it reigned for 200 years and changed the way we print things today for the better.