How did the masses communicate before the print revolution?

Communication was limited prior to print revolution. Networks of communication were set up to spread information from one another. Examples of this would be Christendom, with information traveling from the Vatican to the clergy. This tradition continued with networks for statehood and supply lines. Often stories were told and passed through storey tellers and ballad singers.

As time progressed, written word was also passed on. Each book would have to be copied by a calligrapher or hand copyist. This limited the availability of the books because of the time it took to duplicate. This process also made it impossible to have regular publishing. Current news stories could never be published because the news would be very old by the time it was put to paper for the masses.

This impersonal form of copying changed slightly in China with the invent of hand blocks. These blocks were used as stencils to make quicker copies of texts for the masses. Although it was not perfect, it was the first step leading to the invention of the Guttenberg Press.

The text states that no agree upon term is in existence for this type of communication before print. That demonstrates the importance of the printing press and print revolution to the world. It allowed for the work of hundreds of men to be performed in minutes.