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Things That Made the Modern Economy

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Inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world

50 Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 1

Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 1: Paper

Paper

05/04/2017

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Things That Made the Modern Economy, Series 1, Paper

The Gutenberg press changed the world - but it could not have done so without paper.

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world. Paper, invented in China just over 2,000 years ago.

The Gutenberg printing press is widely considered to be one of humanity's defining inventions. Actually, you can quibble with Gutenberg's place in history. He wasn't the first to invent a movable type press - it was originally developed in China. Still, the Gutenberg press changed the world. It led to Europe's reformation, science, the newspaper, the novel, the school textbook, and much else. But it could not have done so without another invention, just as essential but often overlooked: paper. Paper was another Chinese idea, just over 2000 years ago.

Producer: Ben Crighton
Editors: Richard Knight and Richard Vadon.

Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 1

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world.

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world.

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Things That Made the Modern Economy

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