Johann Gutenberg, who worked as a goldsmith, took what had already been discovered, and created a small invention that changed history.
Johann
Gutenberg
,
who
worked
as
a
goldsmith
,
took
what
had
already
been
discovered
,
and
created
a
small
invention
that
changed
history
.
He created a machine that allowed him to move small blocks of letters in such a way that written material could be printed and mass-produced.
He
created
a
machine
that
allowed
him
to
move
small
blocks
of
letters
in
such
a
way
that
written
material
could
be
printed
and
mass-produced
.
Few people could read before Guttenberg made the invention, but once books became less expensive, more Europeans could read and write.
Few
people
could
read
before
Guttenberg
made
the
invention
,
but
once
books
became
less
expensive
,
more
Europeans
could
read
and
write
.
Block printing existed long before Gutenberg.
Block
printing
existed
long
before
Gutenberg
.
The Chinese had been using wood blocks to print books as early as 868, but a new set of woodcuts had to be made for each book.
The
Chinese
had
been
using
wood
blocks
to
print
books
as
early
as
868
,
but
a
new
set
of
woodcuts
had
to
be
made
for
each
book
.
Producing one book was not easy; producing all kinds of books was more difficult.
Producing
one
book
was
not
easy
;
producing
all
kinds
of
books
was
more
difficult
.
Writing ink dates from about 2500 BC in Egypt and China.
Writing
ink
dates
from
about
2500
BC
in
Egypt
and
China
.
Gutenberg used an oil-based printing ink that would last longer than other inks used in his time.
Gutenberg
used
an
oil-based
printing
ink
that
would
last
longer
than
other
inks
used
in
his
time
.
We don't know much about Gutenberg because he was not famous during his lifetime.
We
do
n't
know
much
about
Gutenberg
because
he
was
not
famous
during
his
lifetime
.
He was born in Germany about 1400.
He
was
born
in
Germany
about
1400
.
In 1448, Gutenberg developed signatures for each number, letter, and punctuation mark.
In
1448
,
Gutenberg
developed
signatures
for
each
number
,
letter
,
and
punctuation
mark
.
He then built the molds to hold the signatures in place.
He
then
built
the
molds
to
hold
the
signatures
in
place
.
Gutenberg published the first mass-produced book: a 1,282 page Bible.
Gutenberg
published
the
first
mass-produced
book
:
a
1,282
page
Bible
.
To this day, more copies of the Bible have been printed than any other book.
To
this
day
,
more
copies
of
the
Bible
have
been
printed
than
any
other
book
.
Copies of Gutenberg's invention spread throughout Europe, but the German goldsmith did not get rich from his invention.
Copies
of
Gutenberg
's
invention
spread
throughout
Europe
,
but
the
German
goldsmith
did
not
get
rich
from
his
invention
.
Some officials denounced the invention of printing because they feared that it would spread bad ideas.
Some
officials
denounced
the
invention
of
printing
because
they
feared
that
it
would
spread
bad
ideas
.
By 1500 there were 1,700 printing presses in Europe.
By
1500
there
were
1,700
printing
presses
in
Europe
.
The presses had already produced about 20 million volumes of 40,000 different books.
The
presses
had
already
produced
about
20
million
volumes
of
40,000
different
books
.
Johann Gutenberg, who worked as a goldsmith, took what had already been discovered, and created a small invention that changed history. He created a machine that allowed him to move small blocks of letters in such a way that written material could be printed and mass-produced. Few people could read before Guttenberg made the invention, but once books became less expensive, more Europeans could read and write.  Block printing existed long before Gutenberg. The Chinese had been using wood blocks to print books as early as 868, but a new set of woodcuts had to be made for each book. Producing one book was not easy; producing all kinds of books was more difficult.  Writing ink dates from about 2500 BC in Egypt and China. Gutenberg used an oil-based printing ink that would last longer than other inks used in his time. We don't know much about Gutenberg because he was not famous during his lifetime. He was born in Germany about 1400. In 1448, Gutenberg developed signatures for each number, letter, and punctuation mark. He then built the molds to hold the signatures in place. Gutenberg published the first mass-produced book: a 1,282 page Bible. To this day, more copies of the Bible have been printed than any other book.  Copies of Gutenberg's invention spread throughout Europe, but the German goldsmith did not get rich from his invention. Some officials denounced the invention of printing because they feared that it would spread bad ideas. By 1500 there were 1,700 printing presses in Europe. The presses had already produced about 20 million volumes of 40,000 different books.