The Printing Press Changes Europe
"The advent of the printing press over five hundred years ago may be described as one of the few major significant events in mankind's history in terms of the greatest impact on literacy." ("The Printing Press and It's 'Impact' on Literacy")
Maps A-F show the printing press spreading through Europe. ("The Impact of Movable Type Printing Press")
"However, with the invention of the printing press creating nearly identical books of quality at a economical price, books were now more affordable and available to the general public." ("The Printing Press and It's 'Impact' on Literacy")
In the map "Geographical Diffusion of Columbus's First Letter", it shows..
Christopher Columbus wrote his first letter on the printing press and was issued across Europe into Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.