Illustration for the question “Which established medium, expanding rapidly during the 18th century, contributed greatly to the circulation of Enlightenment ideas?”

History

Which established medium, expanding rapidly during the 18th century, contributed greatly to the circulation of Enlightenment ideas?

Correct answer The steam press

Fact

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In the 18th century, the ideas of the Enlightenment circulated thanks to the increase in the number of books, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and encyclopedias. Salons, cafés, learned societies and correspondence networks also contributed to intellectual exchanges. This diffusion was based on movable type printing, developed in Europe since the 15th century, and on the expansion of the publishing market. The steam press only appeared at the beginning of the 19th century and the typewriter even later. It is therefore more accurate to speak of the rise of printed publications than of a mechanical press invented during the Enlightenment.

Content last updated · August 14, 2026

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