Johann gutenberg biography summary
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Biography of Johannes Gutenberg, German Inventor of the Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg (born Johannes Gensfleisch zum Gutenberg; circa 1400—February 3, 1468) was a German blacksmith and inventor who developed the world’s first mechanical moveable type printing press. Regarded as a milestone in modern human history, the printing press played a key role in the advancement of the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Age of Enlightenment. Making the knowledge contained in books and literature affordable and readily available for the first time, Gutenberg’s press was used to create one of the Western world’s first and most famous books, the Gutenberg Bible, also known as the “42-Line Bible.”
Fast Facts: Johannes Gutenberg
- Known For: Inventing the moveable type printing press
- Born: c. 1394–1404 in Mainz, Germany
- Parents: Friele Gensfleisch zur Laden and Else Wirich
- Died: February 3, 1468, in Mainz, Germany
- Education: Apprentice to a goldsmith, may have
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Johann Gutenberg
The printing press, invented by German goldsmith Johann Gutenberg in 1448, has been called one of the most important inventions in the history of humankind. For the first time, the device made it possible for the common man, woman, and child to have tillgång to books, which meant that they would have the unprecedented ability to accumulate knowledge.
Before the invention of the printing press, the majority of books were written and copied by grabb. Block printing was becoming more popular, which involved carving each page of a skrivelse into a block of wood and pressing each block onto paper. Because these processes were so labor-intensive, books were very expensive, and only the rich could afford them.
Believed to have been born in Mainz, Germany, in approximately 1399, Gutenberg, nee Johann Gensfleisch later adopted his family’s settling place as his gods name. He was trained as a goldsmith, gem cutter, and metallurgist. For some time he lived in Strasbourg, most
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Johannes Gutenberg facts for kids
Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (c. 1398 – February 3, 1468) was a Germanblacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with the printing press. His introduction of mechanical movable type printing to Europe started the Printing Revolution. It is believed that his invention of the movable type printing press brought in the modern period of human history.
Gutenberg's printing press
In 1439, Gutenberg was the first European to use movable type. He used oil-based ink, adjustable molds, mechanical movable type, and a wooden printing press. He invented a process for mass-producing movable type, which sped up the process of printing books. Gutenberg's printing technology spread rapidly throughout Europe and later the world.
Before Gutenberg's printing press, books had to be handwritten, making them time-consuming to make and expensive to buy. Only the wealthy could afford to buy books. His invention allo