Who Invented the Printing Press
One of the most influential inventions of the 2nd millennium, the invention of printing press truly turned out to be a boon for people in the field of arts and literature. Since its invention in 1436, printing press has come a long way to get into its present day incarnation - sophisticated and improved. Even though it is considered to be one of the most influential inventions of mankind, a large number of people have no clue about who invented it or when it was invented. In order to find the answers to these questions, we have to go back to the history of printing - which can be traced back to as early as the beginning of the 2nd millennium.
Printing Press History
The paper money and playing cards from China which made it to the west in the 13th century were block printed, i.e. carved on a block of wood and transferred on paper with ink. The process was quite expensive and time-consuming. Over the next century, the method of using wooden blocks to print on paper became quite popular. However, trials to come up with something that was less time-consuming and relatively inexpensive continued.
Invention of the Printing Press
In mid 15th century, a German goldsmith came up with a novel technique of printing with movable metal type. He used an alloy of lead, tin and antimony, in place of traditionally used block of wood which perished with time. The new alloy was made from metals that were easy to melt, could cast well in the die and, more importantly, were durable. The mirror image of each letter or symbol was carved on this alloy, and each letter being carved on a separate piece meant that these letters could be easily rearranged to come up with several different texts. This was the first printing press, and the German goldsmith who invented it was Johannes Gutenberg. The machine was based on the lines of the screw olive and wine presses used during this period.
Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg was a goldsmith, printer and inventor hailing from Germany. Born in the city of Mainz in 1398, Gutenberg is also credited with some of the most notable contributions to various fields - including the 42-line Bible and oil based ink. His initial experiments pertaining to the invention of printing press were funded by Andreas Dritzehn, a wealthy citizen in Germany. However, Dritzehn died in 1438, before Gutenberg could make any major breakthrough with his experiments. Some of masterpieces coming from Gutenberg's press in the 15th century included 'Poem of the Last Judgment' (in 1446) and 'Calendar for 1448'. In 1450, Gutenberg struck a deal with another wealthy German businessman, Johannes Fust. In collaboration with Fust, Gutenberg produced some of the most prominent works in his printing press including the 42-line Bible.
The Gutenberg printing press is referred to as one of the most influential inventions of that period because it played a pivotal role in spreading literature. The cost incurred on printing material reduced drastically, which in turn reduced the price of printed material and thus brought it within the reach of masses.
