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[[Image:Johann_Gutenberg.jpg|thumb|200px|Johann Gutenberg]]

[[Image:Johann_Gutenberg.jpg|thumb|200px|Johann Gutenberg]]

'''Johannes Gutenberg''' (1400 - 1468) was a [[Germany|German]] printer who invented the first printing press using movable type.  He was also the first to use a press to print, by setting up a matrix for typecasting.

'''Johannes Gutenberg''' (1400 - 1468) was a [[Germany|German]] [[printer]] who invented the first printing [[press]] using movable type.  He was also the first to use a press to print, by setting up a matrix for typecasting.

His first printed book, and definitely the most important, is known as the ''Gutenberg Bible'', which was the [[Latin]] version of the [[Bible]] used at the time. This is the oldest book still in existence ("extant") in the West.  He was printing copies of the Bible by 1455.

His first printed book, and definitely the most important, is known as the ''Gutenberg Bible'', which was the [[Latin]] version of the [[Bible]] used at the time. This is the oldest book still in existence ("extant") in the West.  He was printing copies of the Bible by 1455.

The invention of the printing press is considered one of the greatest inventions of all time, and it had an enormous impact on [[Europe]].  The [[Reformation]] in the following century relied on the printing press to circulate translations of the Bible in German to the public. Before Johann Gutenberg and the press, no common person could own their own copy.  Gutenberg's printing press, while invaluable to society, was a financial disaster.  He fell into such debt that his presses were confiscated as collateral.

The invention of the printing press is considered one of the greatest inventions of all time, and it had an enormous impact on [[Europe]].  The [[Reformation]] in the following century relied on the printing press to circulate translations of the Bible in German to the public. Before Johann Gutenberg and the press, no common person could own their own copy.  Gutenberg's printing press, while invaluable to society, was a financial disaster.  He fell into such debt that his presses were confiscated as collateral.

Books had been printed in [[China]] for hundreds of years before Gutenberg.  The first book printed in China was the ''Diamond Sutra'', a [[Buddhist]] prayer book.<ref>Azimov, Issac.  ''Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts''.  New York: Random House, 1979.</ref>

Books had been printed in [[China]] for hundreds of years before Gutenberg.  The first [[book]] printed in China was the ''Diamond Sutra'', a [[Buddhist]] prayer book.<ref>Azimov, Issac.  ''Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts''.  New York: Random House, 1979.</ref>

 

 

 

==References==

==References==