<P> In Renaissance Europe, the arrival of mechanical movable type printing introduced the era of mass communication, which permanently altered the structure of society . The relatively unrestricted circulation of information and (revolutionary) ideas transcended borders, captured the masses in the Reformation and threatened the power of political and religious authorities . The sharp increase in literacy broke the monopoly of the literate elite on education and learning and bolstered the emerging middle class . Across Europe, the increasing cultural self - awareness of its peoples led to the rise of proto - nationalism, and accelerated by the development of European vernacular languages, to the detriment of Latin's status as lingua franca . In the 19th century, the replacement of the hand - operated Gutenberg - style press by steam - powered rotary presses allowed printing on an industrial scale . </P> <P> The rapid economic and socio - cultural development of late medieval society in Europe created favorable intellectual and technological conditions for Gutenberg's improved version of the printing press: the entrepreneurial spirit of emerging capitalism increasingly made its impact on medieval modes of production, fostering economic thinking and improving the efficiency of traditional work - processes . The sharp rise of medieval learning and literacy amongst the middle class led to an increased demand for books which the time - consuming hand - copying method fell far short of accommodating . </P> <P> Technologies preceding the press that led to the press's invention included: manufacturing of paper, development of ink, woodblock printing, and distribution of eyeglasses . At the same time, a number of medieval products and technological processes had reached a level of maturity which allowed their potential use for printing purposes . Gutenberg took up these far - flung strands, combined them into one complete and functioning system, and perfected the printing process through all its stages by adding a number of inventions and innovations of his own: </P> <P> The screw press which allowed direct pressure to be applied on flat - plane was already of great antiquity in Gutenberg's time and was used for a wide range of tasks . Introduced in the 1st century AD by the Romans, it was commonly employed in agricultural production for pressing wine grapes and (olive) oil fruit, both of which formed an integral part of the mediterranean and medieval diet . The device was also used from very early on in urban contexts as a cloth press for printing patterns . Gutenberg may have also been inspired by the paper presses which had spread through the German lands since the late 14th century and which worked on the same mechanical principles . </P>

Which city of europe had the breakthrough of first printing press