Change Through Invention: Johannes Gutenberg

Johannes Gensfleisch, zur Laden zum Gutenberg (Born. 1398 – Death. February 3, 1468). He was a German goldsmith, printer and publisher introduced modern book printing. Johannes Gensfleisch’s invention of mechanical variable type printing started the writing and Printing Revolution and that is widely regarded as the most significant event of the modern era. It played a key role in the advancement and development of the Renaissance, Reformation era, the Scientific and Industrial Revolution and founded the concrete basis for the spread of learning to the masses and the modern knowledge-based economy.

Gutenberg was the first European inventor who used variable printing in around 1439 and the world’s reputable inventor of the printing press. In his many contributions to printing revolution are: the invention of the use of oil-based ink; a process for mass-producing movable type; and the use of a wooden printing press alike agricultural screw presses of the age. His really epochal invention was the mixture of these elements into a realistic system which allowed the accumulating production of printed material and was economically feasible for printers and readers alike. His method for making form is traditionally considered to have included a hand mould for casting type and a type of metal alloy.

It was a remarkable improvement on the handwritten manuscripts which was the existing method of textual production in the Europe, woodblock printing and revolutionised the European book-making. His printing technology spread rapidly throughout the Europe and later the world.