Gutenberg's movable-type press

Combining metal movable type, oil-based ink and a screw press, Gutenberg printed the 42-line Bible; within decades presses spread across Europe.

Why it matters

The cost of copying text collapsed by orders of magnitude. Reformation, scientific revolution, standardized vernaculars, modern publics — all trace through the explosion of cheap, identical text.

People

Johannes Gutenberg

Threads

This event sits on Communication and Knowledge.

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From this site

• Writing · 3,000 Years of Communication Technology10 min read

Sources

• Encyclopædia Britannica — printing press