Oral tradition and writing in popular culture

Printed calendars, a transition towards written culture in urban society

Abstract

The consolidation of capitalism made it necessary to rationalize the measurement of time in different areas of Europe for two reasons – to foster economic productivity and to achieve social discipline. Thus the calendar, which had been a typical, but variable measurement, gradually became an increasingly popular printed publication in late modernity and contemporary times. As an object of cultural consumption, the calendar or almanac started to include scientific innovations in the form of advertisements, in addition to its traditional contents. The calendar also played an important role in informal educational settings.