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Table of Contents
The mechanical movable-type printing press invented by German inventor Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg brought printing to Europe. Because of his invention, the Printing Revolution began in Europe, leading to the modern period of human history.
See the fact file below for more information about Johannes Gutenberg, or download the comprehensive worksheet pack, which contains over 11 worksheets and can be used in the classroom or homeschooling environment.
Key Facts & Information
Early Life
- He was born in Mainz around the 1400s as the youngest son of Friele Gensfleisch zur Laden and Else Wyrich, a wealthy patrician merchant and shopkeeper’s daughter. His father was said to be a goldsmith for the city’s bishop.
- Because there were few accounts of his early life, much of it remained a mystery. According to technology historian John Lienhard, he learned about goldsmithing from his father, who worked at the ecclesiastical mint.
- In 1411, his family had to leave Mainz because of an uprising against patricians.
- He was enrolled at the University of Erfurt in 1418 under the name Johannes de Altavilla, so it was assumed that he studied there. Altavilla was the Latin for Eltville am Rhein, where his mother inherited an estate.
- Heinrich Wallau claimed that his surname was derived from the house of Gensfleisch, where his paternal ancestors lived. The name zu Gutenberg was first used around 1427.
- In March 1434, a letter he sent revealed that he was living in Strasbourg as a goldsmith and militia member.
- In 1437, his name came up in court as a result of a broken marriage promise to a woman named Ennelin.
Printing Press
- Around 1439, he became embroiled in a financial crisis because the capital for the exhibition of polished metal mirrors had already been spent, but the event could not take place immediately due to severe flooding.
- It was said that he discovered printing around 1444 as a result of his research in the hope of making a source of income.
- He returned to Mainz in 1448 and borrowed money from his brother-in-law, Arnold Gelthus. The money was assumed to be used for a printing press.
- The printing press began operation in 1450, with a German poem being the first item printed. He was able to obtain a second loan from wealthy moneylender Johann Fust, and Fust’s son-in-law, Peter Schoffer, joined the venture.
- He established a workshop at Humbrechthof. He conceived the Bible project, which prompted him to borrow another 800 guilders from Fust so that it could begin in 1452.
- The press was also printing more profitable texts, rumored to be about Latin grammar. Records show that a new press was established between 1454 and 1455 to print thousands of indulgences for the church.
- In 1455, he printed his 42-line Bible, which became known as the Gutenberg Bible, and around 180 copies were made.
Dispute with Fust
- He had a disagreement with Fust in 1456 as he was asked to repay the loan while being accused of misusing the funds. Fust filed a complaint against him in the archbishop’s court.
- According to Fust, Gutenberg diverted funds intended for the “project of the books” to other uses. After the court favored him, Fust took over the Bible printing workshop.
- On August 14, 1457, the shop he left to Fust and Schoffer published the first book in Europe with printing details, including the mechanical process by which it was produced, without mentioning him.
Later Life
- He went bankrupt, but he was able to run a small printing shop and participate in the Bamberg Bible printing in 1459.
- Archbishop von Nassau recognized his achievements in the printing industry on January 18, 1465. He was given the title Hofmann, which means “gentleman of the court,” and a stipend.
- In 1468, he died of natural causes and was buried in Mainz.
Printing Method
- His early printing process was not well known. Setting each page of the Gutenberg Bible was estimated to take half a day, including all labor. It led to the conclusion that he employed up to 25 craftspeople in his printing shop.
- His printing method was also unclear.
- In the traditional method, a rugged metal punch is hammered into a softer copper bar to create a matrix. The matrix was then poured into a mold and cast with molten metal. It can be removed from the mold once it has cooled. As long as the matrix is not broken, it can be reused multiple times. The development of typefaces or fonts resulted from the uniform appearance caused by the use of the same matrix. Pages were created by arranging type cases and then inked and printed. Because the pages can be reused in any combination, the term “movable type” was coined.
- He was credited with inventing typesetting through the use of a punch, matrix, and mold. Recent discoveries, however, indicate that his process was somewhat different.
- Irregularities were observed in his type, particularly in simple characters such as the hyphen. According to the hypothesis, his method involved using simple shapes to form the alphabet.
- During the 19th century, it was suggested that he did not use the reusable matrix in producing casting the type, but wooden types were carved individually.
- Many possibilities were further suggested, but there was no specific detail on the method that he used.
Legacy
- He went through financial crises, but printing technology spread quickly, allowing news and books to travel more quickly throughout Europe. It was a major driving force behind the scientific revolution.
- After visionary printers ensured the accessibility of printed materials containing the major Greek and Latin texts, Venice became the capital of printing. Italy concentrated on the rapid rise of movable-type printing, which caused its economy to grow rapidly while also facilitating the spread of literacy.
- One of the books printed with movable type was a geography book purchased for Christopher Columbus by his father, which is now on display in a Spanish museum.
- The first items he printed were indulgence certificates. Martin Luther used printing to discuss his anti-indulgences stance in his Ninety-five Theses. Luther published broadsheets for this purpose, which later aided in the development of the newspaper.
- In 1952, he was commemorated for his invention of the movable type printing press by the US Postal Service through a five-hundredth anniversary stamp.
- Marshall McLuhan’s study on print culture, cultural studies, and media ecology, The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man, was published in 1961.
- In 1978, he was ranked eighth in a book of the top 100 most influential people.
- Time-Life magazine named his invention the most important of the second millennium in 1997.
- The asteroid 777 Gutemberga was also commemorated after him.
- In 2018, his name was used for the new editing system of WordPress.
Johannes Gutenberg Worksheets
This bundle includes 11 ready-to-use Johannes Gutenberg worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about Johannes Gutenberg, who was a German inventor who introduced the concept of the metal movable type printing press to Europe.
This download includes the following worksheets:
- Johannes Gutenberg Facts
- Master of European Printing
- History of Print
- Because of Gutenberg
- Greatest Inventors
- Gutenberg’s Bible
- East and West
- Terms to Print
- Printing Press
- Modern Printing
- In Print
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Johannes Gutenberg known for?
He went through financial crises, but printing technology spread quickly, allowing news and books to travel more quickly throughout Europe. It was a major driving force behind the scientific revolution.
What was the invention of Johannes Gutenberg?
The mechanical movable-type printing press invented by German inventor Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg brought printing to Europe.
Why did Johannes Gutenberg create the printing press?
Around 1439, he became embroiled in a financial crisis because the capital for the exhibition of polished metal mirrors had already been spent, but the event could not take place immediately due to severe flooding. It was said that he discovered printing around 1444 as a result of his research in the hope of making a source of income.
What happened to Johannes Gutenberg?
He went bankrupt, but he was able to run a small printing shop and participate in the Bamberg Bible printing in 1459. In 1468, he died of natural causes and was buried in Mainz.
What did Gutenberg print first?
The printing press began operation in 1450, with a German poem being the first item printed.
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