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Leonardo da Vinci's creative process
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The importance of curiosity and observation
Johannes Gutenberg's life
- He was born into a wealthy patrician merchant family between 1394 and 1404 in the city of Mainz. He grew up learning the trade of goldsmithing.
- In 1411, the Gutenbergs were exiled after an uprising against the patrician class.
- He ended up living in Strasbourg, where he was a goldsmith and a member of the Strasbourg militia.
- He created metal hand mirrors that pilgrims bought and used when visiting holy sites.
- In 1440, Gutenberg supposedly declared he had perfected the art of printing.
- In 1448, Gutenberg moved back to Mainz, and with a loan from his brother-in-law, he built an operating printing press in 1450.
- With a working press, Gutenberg got a wealthy moneylender, Johann Fust, to lend him more capital to fund further refinement of the printing process.
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MORE IDEAS ON THIS
The printing revolution
Johannes Gutenberg's ideas started a printing revolution, as they accelerated the spread of information.
The printing press was used to fuel the later part of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution, making possible the start of the Industrial Revolution.
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A gentleman of the court
In 1459, Gutenberg opened a small printing shop in Bamberg (Bavaria), where he continued printing the Bible.
Six years later, Prince Archbishop of Mainz recognized Gutenberg's accomplishments and named him a gentleman of the court - meaning he could live on the court's large annual stipend...
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Johannes Gutenberg
He was a 15th-century German goldsmith and inventor and is known for creating the first metal movable-type printing press.
Gutenberg's inventions included a process for mass-producing movable type, the use of oil-based ink for printing books, and adjustable molds.
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Printing press consequences
Johannes Gutenberg's innovation spread throughout Europe and beyond.
- Books became cheaper and more easily accessible.
- The flood of printed texts helped to increase literacy rates.
The monopolistic controls that were held over E...
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Johannes Gutenberg going bankrupt
Gutenberg had two presses, one for lucrative commercial texts, the other solely for printing the Bible.
In 1455, Fust (his moneylender) accused Gutenberg of misallocation of funds, sued Gutenberg, and demanded his money back. Fust won and took possession of the printing workshop and ha...
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Other curated ideas on this topic:
A revolution to printing and writing
- In the 1440s, Johannes Gutenberg started to experiment with movable types. He made a metal movable type system of casting letters with screw press and hand mould. The machine was semi-mechanic but was very effective.
- The first complete book printed on the movable type was the Guten...
Johannes Gutenberg
He was a 15th-century German goldsmith and inventor and is known for creating the first metal movable-type printing press.
Gutenberg's inventions included a process for mass-producing movable type, the use of oil-based ink for printing books, and adjustable molds.
Quill pens and the printing press
- The quill pen was used for the longest period in history. It was taken from living bird feathers in the spring. A quill pen lasted for one week before it had to be replaced.
- In 1436, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. The ability to ma...
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