The Printing press was a new mode of printing texts and books which was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the first half of the 15th century. Gutenberg’s invention proved critically significant for the Renaissance that was taking place across Europe.
Thanks to his printing press, it became possible to rapidly publish books and make them available to a greater number of people at a more modest price. Such possibilities brought classic and contemporary books and literature into the hands of a greater portion of society, ushering in what has been called the ‘printing revolution.
Movable type printing was already in practice in Europe before Gutenberg’s invention in the 15th century. But the genius of Gutenberg lay in refining movable type printing and making it more efficient than ever before.
Gutenberg came up with the idea of the new type of printing press in 1440. In the next few years, he brought together the funds needed to set up his own press which became operational by 1450.
In 1452, Gutenberg undertook the first major printing project on his new press, that of printing the famous 42-line Bible. This publication effectively heralded the beginning of the printing revolution.
During the early 15th century, methods of printing books were already available. But the traditional printing techniques were slow, cumbersome, and highly expensive, making it virtually impossible to print books in bulk.
Gutenberg had an experience in metalwork, goldsmithing, gem-polishing, and later as a publisher and printer as well. It was drawing on his vast skill set that Gutenberg endeavored to create a printing press that was more rapid.
Johannes Gutenberg *Printing Press
He did this by inventing a system where he could utilize the existing printing equipment in an all-new way. In doing so, he used a type of metal alloy, and for casting type, used hand mold. The molds he used were easily adjustable, the inks he utilized were far more durable and he used a movable type that was mechanical and easier to use.
The result was that his printing press was able to print colored copies of texts and books at a greater speed and lesser price.
Europe was in the midst of the Renaissance when Gutenberg came up with his new printing press. His invention was immensely popular given the needs of the time and by the end of the 15th century, Italy alone had printing shops in 77 cities while printers utilizing the new press were operational in all parts of Europe.
By this time, these printers had already published 20 million texts, a publishing volume that was considered virtually impossible by the European printers only a few decades earlier.
The invention of the printing press became a crucial factor that made Renaissance possible in Europe. It made it possible for classic texts as well as new ideas and books to be disseminated to a large part of society in no time.
It was largely thanks to this new mode of printing that Reformation in Protestant regions and Enlightenment in France subsequently became possible. The press also paved the path for entirely new fields of written text, such as newspapers.
Learn More about Johannes Gutenberg and Medieval Printing Press at Wikipedia