Johannes Gutenberg & Mechanical Movable Type Printing

Johannes Gutenberg

Johannes Gutenberg was a German with many professions, including being a goldsmith and blacksmith, although his most notable creation was the invention of the mechanical movable type print which started the Printing Revolution, this meant he was the first European to actually use movable type printing. This is known to be the most important event in his time. With this feat he laid the basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and spread of learning to the masses, while also playing a key role in the Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution.

The Gutenberg Press

The Gutenberg Press with its metal (once was wooden) movable type printing brought down the price of materials which had been printed and made such materials available for the masses. It remained this way until the 20th century. The printing press was developed from the the same technology of screw-type wine presses of the Rhine Valley. It was here, in 1440, that Gutenberg created his printing press, a hand press, where ink is rolled over raised surfaces of hand set block letters held within a wooden form. The form is then pressed against a blank piece of paper.



The Gutenberg Bible

The most influential book published by Johannes Gutenberg was his own take on the bible, the Gutenberg Bible, which was out during the mid 1400s. His printing presses were later used to mass produce Bibles - helping to spread the most influential book of the era. This Bible is also well known for its high quality of design. Nearly 200 hundred of the originals were made mainly on paper and others on vellum. Despite the genius of this invention, Gutenberg was never really able to financially capitalise on his invention, although his printing press soon got famous, mainly across Europe and especially to Venice and Italy, where printing took a big part in the renaissance.