Boktryck och reformation

摘要

This article gives an overview over the first decades of book printing after 1450 and how the printing press evolved as a prerequisite of the reformation: ”No printing, no Reformation” (Bernd Moeller). However, printing was not only a prerequisite for the Reformation. The Reformation also transformed printing in a very special way: Wittenberg advanced to become one of Europe’s most important printing sites, one where countless prints were produced. Furthermore, the vernacular became more important than previously, and in fact Luther has to be considered, in some way, as the first ”modern” author. Even the layout of prints – especially the title page – was transformed in Wittenberg in the aftermath of 1517. Last but not least, Luther himself was well aware of the importance printing had for the Reformation, and also included ”the book” in his theological thinking.