The Gutenberg Revolution: A History of Innovation

Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century altered the world. This groundbreaking device enabled the mass production of literature, breaking the previous control of knowledge held by the religious institutions. Before Gutenberg's discovery, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them expensive and accessib

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The Strasbourg Dancing Mania of 1518

In the autumn of 1518, the city of Strasbourg was gripped by a most peculiar and frightening phenomenon. A woman named Frau Troffea unexpectedly began to dance in the streets, seemingly without any cause or provocation. Her uncontrollable dancing continued for days, and soon others followed her in this peculiar spectacle. Thousands of people, it i

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