Biography:
Johannes Gensfleisch , known as Gutenberg, born probably in 1397 in Mainz in the Holy Roman Empire, is a German printer known for the invention of movable metallic characters. The documentation is lacking to know precisely the life of Gutenberg. From 1434 to 1444, his family moved to Strasbourg. Gutenberg, already in his thirties, apprenticed there to become a goldsmith.
Thanks to the techniques he acquired, he probably began his work on printing.
It would be wrong to say that Gutenberg invented the printing press. Historians have proven that printing already existed, especially in Korea in the 14th century, in a different form. However, Gutenberg did invent the typographical process of printing. He had the idea of using movable lead characters. Stronger, the latter are struck upside down and facilitate work. Combined with the manual press system, this method accelerates the printing yield. After several years, Gutenberg
gave birth to his first printed work: the Bible. His invention marks the birth of printing in Europe, a major turning point in our history, since typography has been decisive in the dissemination of texts and knowledge.
Johannes Gutenberg probably died on February 3, 1468 in Mainz. Little known to his contemporaries, his invention nevertheless brought him glory and the title of archbishop, but also made him aware of many problems. The invention of the printing press is considered a major event of the Renaissance, and helped to change the face of the world by allowing knowledge to be disseminated on a large scale.
Quotes:
“ It is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall flow in inexhaustible streamsThrough it, God will spread His Word. A spring of truth shall flow from it: like a new star it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance, and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men.”
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johannes-Gutenberg
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