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3200 BCE
Cuniform Writing is Developed
Cuneiform, one of if not the earliest writing system(s), was developed by the Sumerians using technology of the period around 3200 BC in Uruk, which was located in present-day Iraq. Primarily used to detail transactions, this form of writing utilized wedge-shaped symbols, generally carved into clay tablets, to represent numerical values, syllables, and different products. Further reading -
600
Woodblock Printing Appears in Tang Dynasty China
First appearing in Tang Dynasty China around 600, woodblock printing revolutionized the way Buddhist literature was distributed and records were kept in China. A revolutionary but slow process, the use of woodblock printing would continue to be the most common printing practice in China for the next three centuries.
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1048
Bi Sheng Invents Moveable-Type Printing in Song Dynasty China
While woodblock printing was a technological revelation, the slow nature of its process lead a man named Bi Sheng to invent moveable-type printing around 1048. A commoner, Bi Sheng had spent years before mastering woodblock printing, and sought to create a faster way to manufacture books of literature, medicine, and other things. Short documentary on moveable-type printing that includes a demonstration -
1400
Gutenberg Revolutionizes Printing by Inventing the Gutenberg Printing Press
Around 1400, German Johannes Gutenberg put the finishing touches on the first of his printing presses, a machine that enabled the Renaissance and spread literature far and wide to people who would have otherwise been considered to poor to learn to read. It is believed that the first text ever printed on the Gutenberg press was a collection of Germanic poetic texts for students. He eventually completed the Gutenberg Bible. Video demonstration -
The Sholes & Glidden Typewriter is Introduced to the American Market
While the typewriter was initially invented in 1808, the introduction of the Sholes & Glidden Typewriter to the American market in 1874 sparked the public interest that would eventually lead to widespread adoption of the machines in homes, offices, and eventually schools. Clip of someone using one | Further reading -
The E-Book is Invented
In 1971, Michael Hart invented the e-book. Using the extensive network of computers at his college, he typed out the Declaration of Independence and sent it to another computer on the school's network. He would go on to found Project Gutenberg, and according to his obituary, dedicated his life to "the digitization and distribution of literature." Further reading -
The Internet Goes Mainstream
While it had existed for almost a decade at the turn of the millennium, the widespread public adoption of the Internet in the late '90s and early parts of the 21st century opened the door for school-wide Internet access, allowing students to research and create more things than ever before. -
Amazon Releases the Kindle E-Reader
While a number of e-readers already existed before Amazon's release of the Kindle and e-books could be downloaded and read on one's laptop, the handheld automated reading device proved a turning point in the normalization of e-readers. Followed shortly after with the introduction of the Apple iPad, many schools have adopted one-to-one tablet programs in which students utilize the features offered by the devices to enhance their comprehension of literature. -
Smart Phones Become Popularized
At the conclusion of the first decade of the '00s, smartphones were already wildly popular, and their popularity and borderline necessity to everyday existence is only continuing to grow today. With this growth and the cheap unlimited data programs currently being offered by phone providers, literature has never been easier for students to access.
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E-Learning Becomes More Prevalent
As we move further into the 21st century, e-learning programs are becoming more and more common, and many students are utilizing the internet, e-readers, and personal computers to receive their instruction in the subjects of English and literature. Online schooling programs like Florida Virtual School offer students an education obtained entirely through the internet, utilizing everything modern technology has to offer.
