THE SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY,
SOCIETY, AND
HISTORY
THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
SOCIETY, AND HISTORY

society

science

History

technology
What are the inventions?
PRINTING PRESS PAPER MONEY

Our chosen inventions are the printing press invented by Johaness Gutenberg and the paper money developed at the tang
dynasty of China.
What are the precursors of your chosen inventions? What tools existed
prior to these or how did people carry out activities before these
inventions?

Before the invention of paper money, jewelry, gold, and other

metal objects were traded as payments for goods and
services. Before the printing press, people use rocks and
wood as an engraving material for their writing and language
like the cuneiform and stone tablets.
What were the social, political, cultural,
or economic contexts in which the
inventions were made?

The economic structure of the Early middle ages was under-developed and predominantly
agricultural. Centralized authority collapsed. Invasions and mass migrations of tribes were
prevalent. Feudalism was the leading way of political and economic life in the Medieval era.
Monarchs, like kings and queens, maintained control and power by the support of other powerful
people called lords.

Life was harsh, with a limited diet and little comfort. Women were subordinate to men, in both the
peasant and noble classes, and were expected to ensure the smooth running of the household.
Children had a 50% survival rate beyond age one, and began to contribute to family life around age
twelve.
What were the social, political, cultural, or
economic impacts of your chosen
inventions?
Paper money made transactions of payments easier. It also introduced a more convenient
way of paying than the traditional barter. This led to an increased exchange of ideas and
more economic specialization, which in turn meant people could grow more food and make
more stuff.
With regards to the invention of the printing press, literacy had an incredible boost
which benefited the society. It also revolutionized culture, increasing the number of
potential readers due to the multiplication of the number of books and the reduction of
their cost.

In conclusion, these inventions improved society's way of living

during the middle ages in terms of the social, economic, cultural,
and political aspect.
“The science of today is the
technology of tomorrow.”
– Edward Teller