The Gutenberg Revolution: A History of Innovation

Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century transformed the world. This groundbreaking technology enabled the mass production of literature, breaking the previous monopoly of knowledge held by the clergy. Before Gutenberg's discovery, books were painstakingly transcribed by hand, making them rare and accessible only

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The Strasbourg Dancing Mania of 1518

In the spring of 1518, the city of Strasbourg was overwhelmed by a most peculiar and frightening phenomenon. A woman named Frau Troffea suddenly began to jig in the streets, apparently without any cause or provocation. Her wild dancing continued for weeks, and soon others followed her in this strange spectacle. Thousands of people, it is said, fel

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