From Diamond Sutra to Mining Engineering - a history of Mining Engineering

摘要

The earliest dated printed book known is the Diamond Sutra, printed in China in 868 A.D. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date. In 1041, movable clay type was first invented in China. Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press with replaceable wooden or metal letters in 1436. It was completed by 1440. Fast forward to 1700 when the first magazines began appearing as soapboxes for essays, satire or political/religious viewpoints. Featuring tiny print and no illustrations, these early black and white magazines reached a limited literate population - mostly the elite and upper class. With a postal delivery service in its infancy and a limited educated audience, these early magazines were not widely distributed or well known. But they were highly influential tools for those with the means and a message.