THE STRASBOURG DANCING MANIA OF 1518

In the spring of 1518, the city of Strasbourg was consumed by a most peculiar and frightening phenomenon. A woman named Frau Troffea suddenly began to jig in the streets, apparently without any cause or provocation. Her uncontrollable dancing continued for weeks, and soon others joined her in this bizarre spectacle. Thousands of people, it is said

Johannes Gutenberg's invention revolutionized the world through his groundbreaking printing press. This innovation, which utilized movable type, made it possible to manufacture books at a rate never before seen. Prior to Gutenberg's contribution, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them both expensive. The advent of printing popularized