Introduction -- Printing in its contexts -- The media and the public sphere in early modern Europe -- Technologies and revolutions -- New processes and patterns -- Information, education, entertainment -- Media convergences -- In and out of cyberspace -- Chronology -- Further reading -- Index.

"Avoiding technological determinism and rejecting assumptions of straightforward evolutionary progress, this book brings out the rich and varied histories of communication media. In an age of fast-paced media developments, a thorough understanding of media history is more important than ever, and this text will continue to be the first choice for students and scholars across the world."