European Christianity in the Age of Paper
This presentation proposes a new periodization for Christianity in Europe between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries characterized by the increased availability paper. Material from the Newbery's collection will be used to show how new devotional tools made possible by the relative affordability of paper in the fourteenth century would continue to influence Christian culture across denominations into the seventeenth century. Paper allowed more Christians to privately copy their favorite prayers, devotional techniques, and visionary experiences. With the advent of printing, some of these personal books would be adapted, popularized, and distributed internationally.