Difference between revisions of "Johannes Gutenberg"
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Johannes Gutenberg (A.D. 1400-1468) was a 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 (A.D. 1400-1468) was a 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 is known as the Gutenberg Bible, which was the Latin version of the Bible used at the time. | + | 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. | + | 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. |
Some historians claim that the printing press had already been invented in China before Gutenberg, but this is debatable as no one in the West was aware of it. | Some historians claim that the printing press had already been invented in China before Gutenberg, but this is debatable as no one in the West was aware of it. | ||
Revision as of 18:35, November 30, 2006
Johannes Gutenberg (A.D. 1400-1468) was a 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.
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.
Some historians claim that the printing press had already been invented in China before Gutenberg, but this is debatable as no one in the West was aware of it.