Gutenberg and the Printing Press


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Gutenberg and the Printing Press

Gutenberg and the Printing Press: Johann Gutenberg was a German goldsmith and inventor. He is credited with inventing movable type printing in Europe As a son of rich merchant, he had seen wine and olive press and acquired the expertise to create lead moulds. He used his knowledge to design his innovation. The olive press provided the model for printing press and moulds were used for casting the metal types for the letters of the alphabet. By 1448, Gutenberg perfected the system. The first book he printed was the Bible. About 180 copies were printed and it took 3 years to produce them. In fact, printed books at first closely resembled the written manuscripts in appearance and layout. In the hundred years between 1450 and 1550, printing presses were set up in most countries of Europe.

In the second half of the 15th century, 20 million copies of printed books were flooding in the markets of Europe. The number went up in the 16th century to about 200 million copies.

 
 


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