Poll - start of the modern era

[nightauditor]

What do you think is the start of the "modern era"? You can define "modern era" however you like, but be reasonable (i.e., walking erect doesn't count). The start can be an invention, a discovery, a process, the formation of something, etc., but it can't be a natural event. I have one that will probably surprise people (both what it is and that

Comments

"The whispering might hurt you, but the printed word may kill you"

[maramaria]

I'll remain old-school and say that for me it's the invention of the printing press.

While it didn't automatically result in increased literacy, it changed the attitude toward the written text. Prior to that personal libraries were rare and expensive. The invention of the printing press allowed multiple copies to be made and distributed, at least among the reading classes. And the increased availability made it very easy forideology to disseminate. So, in a sense, the invetion of printing ushered in mass media (well, not immediately) which I think is a major characteristic of the modern era.

So there. I'm off to take a nap because Im sick :(