Making News in Renaissance Europe

The regular public transmission of news was one of the great inventions of the Renaissance. This Element, while offering a general account of news in the period, will convey the latest research results concerning the dynamics and significance of this major development.

Drivers of change, apart from sheer curiosity, included state officials seeking opportunities, merchants seeking markets, and writers seeking jobs. Traditional oral settings for news exchange, in homes, at court, and in public squares, from this period onward would have a constant supply of new topics of conversation originating not only from local occurrences but from far away.

These conversations were not only derived from books, pamphlets, and private letters, but also from regularly produced news sheets—first handwritten, then printed—covering what were thought to be the major events of the day. This had significant effects on widespread ways of thinking and behaving.

Making News in Renaissance Europe offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of news and its impact across society during this pivotal era.