Gutenberg's Printing Press

Before Gutenberg

• Books were copied by hand (manuscripts). A Bible might take 1 to 3 years.

The Gutenberg timeline

• c1400 - Johann Gutenberg born.

• 1440 - Gutenberg started experimenting with printing.

• 1450 - printing press perfected and ready for commercial use.

• Amongst other things, Gutenberg printed indulgences for the Roman Catholic Church.

• 1455 - 180 copies of the Gutenberg Bible, Jerome's Latin translation, the Vulgate, printed.

• 3 February 1468 - Johann Gutenberg died.

After Gutenberg

The influence of printing has been massive. The printing press has been acknowledged as the most significant discovery of the second millennium. It has had a huge impact on literacy, the dispersion of knowledge, science etc.. In particular, it contributed directly to the Renaissance.

Christian History magazine listed the invention of the printing press as the 14th most important event in Christian history. It led to much greater access to the Bible by the general population.

It also meant that Martin Luther's writings and pamphlets could be reproduced and distributed quickly thus spreading his ideas and leading to the Reformation. Much of the Reformation was fought by the distribution of printed ideas/teaching by both the church and the reformers.

The distribution of Christian material has been hugely important ever since.