Evidence about Gutenberg's life is fragmentary; one can only guess about some stages of his fate. The contribution that the pioneer printer made to the development of culture in Germany and Europe cannot be overestimated.
Gutenberg's childhood and youth
Johannes Gutenberg was born between 1393 and 1403. Scientists conventionally consider the year of his birth to be 1400. The inventor's family belonged to an ancient noble family and lived in one of the largest and richest cities on the Rhine - Mainz. Gutenberg's parents Friele Gensfleisch and Else Wirich had four children. The Gensfleisch-Gutenberg family belonged to the urban patricians who were the political and economic elite of Mainz. In the earliest documents, Johannes Gutenberg is referred to as Henne Gensfleisch or Henne zur Laden.
Little is known about Gutenberg's childhood and youth. The youngest among several brothers and sisters, the boy apparently attended a church school. This is evidenced by Gutenberg's extensive knowledge of Latin, which was useful to him for his subsequent publishing activities.
Strasbourgtaught Guttenberg to earn money
In 1434, Gutenberg settled in Strasbourg. This city opened up ample opportunities for enterprising people to make money. Gutenberg's business activity suggests that he had extraordinary abilities in attracting capital and qualified employees for his projects.
Since 1437, Gutenberg taught wealthy citizens how to polish precious stones. Some time later, Gutenberg founded a small pilgrim mirror business that produced tin frames to which small convex mirrors were attached with brackets. Pilgrims pinned these devices to their headdresses, hoping with their help to catch the beneficial and healing energy emanating from the holy relics and take some of it with them for their family and friends. However, most likely, they did not mean real mirrors, but illustrated books of an edifying nature called “Mirrors”, which were very popular at that time.
But Gutenberg suffered a setback: the pilgrimage took place several years later than planned, and the invested capital remained idle for a long time. Another invention brought him more income. Gutenberg engraved the stamp used to print indulgences.
Invention of the printing press
At the end of the 40s of the 15th century, Gutenberg again settled in Mainz. The most important period of Johann Gutenberg's life passed here - it was in Mainz that he invented the method of printing using movable letters. Thanks to his relative, Gutenberg received a loan of 150 guilders (which roughly corresponded to the average peasant's earnings for five years) and used this money to equip his workshop.
The first books published by Gutenberg were Latin grammar textbooks. Later, Guttenberg planned to prepare a labor-intensive edition of the Bible and borrowed a huge sum for those times from a major businessman, Johann Fust.
A lossprinting houses
Bible published by Gutenberg
When the printing of the Bible was actually completed, disagreements arose between Gutenberg and Fust. Fust accused his partner of embezzling funds and demanded the return of the debt with interest - in total over two thousand guilders. With this money in Mainz it was possible to build an entire street with stone houses. Gutenberg had to give away the workshop along with the invention and half of the printed copies of the Bible.
Fust took over the printing house and successfully continued the work begun by the inventor. Gutenberg was left behind another workshop, smaller in size and with less technical capabilities. From then on, Johannes Gutenberg took on only small orders, which could neither technically nor aesthetically compare with the first edition of the Bible.
After the loss of the workshop, Gutenberg's attitude towards his invention changed. If earlier he hid the technology from outsiders in every possible way, not wanting to share the benefits with anyone, then after the loss of the workshop, Gutenberg began to participate in various publishing projects. For example, he helped in the publication of the Bible in Bamberg.
last years of life
The turbulent political events in Mainz in the 1460s, the struggle between the old and new archbishops of the city led to the fact that Johann Guttenberg, who supported the old archbishop, was expelled from his hometown with the arrival of the new one.
The inventor of printing settled in Eltville, where at first he lived in poverty. But in 1465, the new Archbishop of Mainz, deciding to restore justice, appointed Gutenberg as his courtier and granted him a life annuity. The inventor received a court dress, plus 2180 liters of bread vodka and 2000 liters of wine, and was also exempt from paying taxes.
Three years later, at the end of January 1468, Johannes Gutenberg died and was buried in the Church of St. Francis. Later this church was destroyed, and since then the burial place of the pioneer printer is unknown.
Printing from boards spread to Europe at the end of the 14th century. In Germany, Italy, and Flanders, paper money, playing cards, and religious pictures were printed using this method. At first there was no text on them, it was written in by hand, then pictures with printed text appeared. Books printed by woodblock printing (that is, from a board) appeared around 1450. The technique of printing from boards resembled Chinese technology in all respects. One side of the sheet remained clean.
The inventor of European printing, Johannes Gutenberg, also first practiced printing from boards. But this method of producing books was not adapted to European alphabets. And Guttenberg came up with an idea: typing text from individual letters. Implementing it, however, turned out to be no easy task; it took ten years of hard work. The main problem was that it was difficult to make letters in large quantities, without cutting each one individually. In other words, it was necessary to come up with a way to mass produce letters. The method Gutenberg eventually found involved abandoning wooden letters and casting them in metal.
He did it in the following way. First, I prepared convex images of letters, cutting them out on iron blocks. Then he put this image against a copper block and hit the letter with a hammer. As a result, a concave image of the letter was imprinted on the copper. In printing, such an image is called a matrix. Gutenberg poured molten lead into it, and when the metal solidified, he removed a block with a convex image of a letter from the matrix. It was mirrored. Lead bars with a letter imprinted on them are called letters. One letter can be used to make thousands of identical letters - just as a letter carved on iron made it possible to make many identical dies.
Mass production of metal type from which the type was composed - this is the meaning of the invention of printing by Gutenberg. Next, we had to come up with a way to put the letters in a row so that we get an even line, and at the same time make a page from the lines. For this Johann invented a simple device- he used a metal plate with three sides, two of them were stationary, and the third could move. This device was called a workbench. The typesetter, in accordance with the text of the book being typed, laid one letter after another in the required order; the sides did not allow them to crumble. When the page was typed, the board was secured. The result was a framed page; it was called a printing plate. The form was covered with special paint and a sheet of paper was pressed against it. The result is an imprint of the type - printed text.
First printing press
In addition to the method of making type and setting text, Johannes Gutenberg created the printing press. He adapted a hand press for printing, which was used for squeezing grape juice. The printing press consisted of a lower board on which the inked set was mounted in a frame, and an upper board which was lowered by a screw. The top board pressed the sheet of paper tightly against the type - and a clear print was obtained. Thus, Guttenberg developed and created the entire printing process- from casting metal type to releasing the finished book.
All the preparatory work - the production of the first sets of fonts and the construction of the machine - required a lot of money. Gutenberg did not have them, and he had to enter into a deal with the wealthy merchant Fust. The condition was this: they split the profit from the invention in half. But Fust had an appetite, more than that - he wanted to take over the entire printing house. And he put forward an additional condition: the money he gives for the creation of a printing house is considered Guttenberg’s debt. If he does not return it on time, then the printing house becomes the property of Fust.
Things immediately went well for Guttenberg. The books were printed and initially sold well. Guttenberg took an assistant and made him an excellent master. The inventor spent his entire share of the profits on casting new fonts and building printing presses; Fust put his share in his pocket. And when Guttenberg’s money ran out, Fust began to demand a debt from him, sued and won his claim.
Guttenberg, starving, began to print books again, while getting into debt. Creditors threatened to sue, and everything could have ended sadly if not for a circumstance that is so typical of our time: the printed word first showed its power in political struggle.
In the city of Mainz, where Guttenberg lived, two archbishops, two highest clergy, were at enmity with each other. But it must be said that they also had enormous civil power - they did what they wanted, each had their own army. Gutenberg took the side of one of them - he began to print sheets in his support, trying to attract the population of the city to his side. And Fust fought for another priest. As a result, the first archbishop won. Guttenberg's contribution to this victory was “highly” appreciated: every year he could receive a free new dress, two hundred measures of grain and two cartloads of wine, as well as permission to receive lunch from the archbishop's table.
Gutenberg's first book
The first full-length book printed by Gutenberg was the so-called 42-line Bible, which consisted of two volumes of 1286 pages. Recognized as a masterpiece of early printing, this book imitated Gothic medieval manuscript books. The colored initials (capital letters) and ornaments were made by hand by the artists.
By 1500, printing had penetrated into 12 European countries. Over the 60 years since the new method began to be used, more than 30 thousand book titles have been printed, the average circulation of one book was 300 copies. These books were called "incunabula".
The printing of books in Old Church Slavonic began at the end of the 15th century. The Belarusian printer Francis Skaryna achieved especially great success here in 1517-1519. who printed books in Prague, and in 1525 - in Vilna.
Printing appeared in the Moscow state in the middle of the 16th century. Its founder was Ivan Fedorov. The first book “Apostle”, printed at the Moscow Printing Yard (it was the first Moscow printing house), dates back to 1564.
With his discovery, the creator of printing technology, Johannes Gutenberg, made a real revolution, thanks to which books and knowledge became accessible to the widest segments of the European population. His invention turned out to be one of the main symbols of the new era.
Childhood
The exact date of birth of Johannes Gutenberg is unknown. Biographers of the inventor place it around 1398. Johann Gutenberg belonged to a family of wealthy citizens of Mainz, who, in the Roman manner, were called patricians. There is also virtually no confirmed information about the boy’s childhood. However, as the son of a wealthy family, he no doubt received a good city education.
Medieval Mainz was torn apart by internal conflicts. Power in it belonged either to the patricians or to their opponents, the artisans. Armed clashes between different social strata were considered commonplace. One of them occurred when Johannes Gutenberg was in his teens. Craftsmen attacked the rich people's quarter and destroyed their houses. The pogrom forced the Gutenberg family to emigrate to Strasbourg. Johann did not return to his hometown for a long time, despite the fact that in 1430 the political pendulum swung in the opposite direction, and an amnesty was declared to all fleeing patricians.
Jeweler career
After many years of prosperity, the Gutenbergs had to adapt to new difficult living conditions. Johann spent his youth in poverty. Lack of income taught him to be independent and hard work. Traditionally, patricians disdained to engage in crafts, considering such an activity ignoble. Johannes Gutenberg thought differently. He made acquaintances with skilled jewelers in Strasbourg and began to learn their craft. Having received an appropriate education, the young man began working in a company engaged in polishing precious stones and producing mirrors.
Gradually, Johann Gutenberg became more and more famous and eminent master. His first students began to appear. History has preserved the name of one of these apprentices - Andreas Dritzen. In 1435, Gutenberg entered into a contract with the student and created a joint venture with him. Historians attribute the emergence of the idea of book printing to this time, which sparked the passion of the Strasbourg jeweler. Throughout his life, he tried not to make the secrets of this art public. That is why, even when concluding a contract with Dritzen, Gutenberg did not directly say that their company would print books. Another workshop for the production of mirrors was publicly created.
Creating letters
Johannes Gutenberg's revolutionary printing press did not appear overnight. First, he came up with the idea of depicting letters on wooden posts and combining the resulting letters into a convenient set. Today this idea seems simple and obvious. However, this was a great breakthrough for the Middle Ages.
In 1438, the Aachen fair, where Gutenberg's workshop sold most of its mirrors, was postponed for two years. The inventor took advantage of the resulting free time to continue working on his secret machine.
On the way to discovery
The epoch-making invention of printing by Johannes Gutenberg was delayed somewhat due to the death of his student and partner Andreas Dritzen. The workshop fell apart. Moreover, Gutenberg was sued by Dritzen's heirs. The protracted process distracted the inventor from his life's work. The court was hearing a dispute over property. Andreas's heirs demanded part of the workshop. Therefore, in the court papers there were references to the press, type forms, lead, etc. Nevertheless, Gutenberg managed to keep the secret of the not yet ready invention a secret.
In 1439, the goldsmith won the lawsuit. After that, he single-handedly plunged into work on the printing design. By creating movable type, Gutenberg was able to move it in countless combinations. The German indulged in his cherished idea in a workroom in a country Strasbourg monastery on the banks of the Ile River, until he finally brought the prototype to a working version. Historians date this event to 1440.
Financial difficulties
Even after the invention of type and the prototype of the press, books by Johannes Gutenberg printed using the new technology did not appear immediately. Experimenting, he worked with wooden molds. However, they were not suitable for regular work, since the images of letters quickly deteriorated.
To improve the machine, it was necessary to continue experiments with other materials. Such research cost a lot of money. Having abandoned mirrors and jewelry work, Johann Gutenberg, in short, was left without serious funds. He began searching for creditors, but no one in Strasbourg dared to invest money in the inventor’s venture. The mistrust of rich people who knew him was intensified by the fact that the father of printing did not reveal all his cards and did not talk in detail about his press.
Collaboration with Fust
In 1445, Johann Gutenberg, whose biography was again connected with Mainz, finally returned to his hometown. Here he relied on the help of his family. However, for five years the inventor made no progress in his main enterprise. The theoretical idea of book printing was ready, but its implementation was delayed.
In 1450, luck finally smiled on Gutenberg. He met the wealthy businessman Johann Fust. The businessman entered into an agreement with the inventor, according to which he gave him a loan of 800 guilders. The amount was issued in installments over several years. Thanks to Fust's capital, the father of printing finally perfected his technology.
With the money he lent, Gutenberg hired several workers, purchased paper and paints, and rented a spacious room. But most importantly, he cast high-quality and reliable type, which was based on an alloy of several metals. When the printing house began to operate at full capacity, Fus, as its main owner, understanding the value of the unique technology, forbade the workers to tell anyone about the secrets of printing. The typesetters swore this to the merchant, swearing on the Gospel. Until that moment, books were copied in monasteries. Manually they multiplied extremely slowly. For a long time, the monks refused to believe that books could be printed using Gutenberg’s invention without resorting to diabolical magic.
"Latin Grammar" and Indulgences
Having taken a new loan from Fust (the previous money was no longer enough), Johannes Gutenberg invented printing. The path to a stable working machine was long, but in the end the design was ready. The first book created using the new technology was “Latin Grammar,” authored by Elius Donatus. Not a single complete copy has survived to this day. Only individual sheets of paper remain, stored in the Paris National Library.
Gutenberg's invention quickly found profitable use. Pope Nicholas V, fearing the Turkish threat, declared a Crusade against the Turks and promised absolution to those who donated money for the upcoming war. In 1453, the Ottomans captured Constantinople, and the Germans rushed to buy indulgences en masse. A huge number of copies of this receipt were required. This is where Gutenberg showed up. On his press, indulgences were printed at a speed unimaginable for its time. Some copies of that edition have survived and belong to museums today.
Gutenberg Bible
Grammar and indulgences were for Gutenberg reconnaissance before the battle. His lifelong dream was to establish a mass printing of the Bible. Preparation, typesetting of the book and other preliminary work took almost five years. The famous 42-line Bible appeared in 1455. It was published in the form of a two-volume folio (the first part contained 324 sheets, the second - 317 sheets).
The Bible was called Gutenburg's. Capital letters were omitted from it. They were drawn by hand by a calligrapher. There was also no page numbering, which is common today. This is not surprising, since printing had just appeared. Johannes Gutenberg published this Bible on parchment and paper (parchment versions were more expensive). Nevertheless, the books were immediately sold out.
Last years and death
The printing house in which Gutenberg printed his Bible and other books that immortalized his name was closed due to debts to Fust. The inventor was unable to pay the interest due to the moneylender and lost to him in court. Fust became the sole owner of the printing house. He sold books all over Europe and became fabulously rich.
Left with nothing, Gutenberg did not give up. With new partners, he opened another printing house. It published a new Latin grammar, the Catholicon, as well as a book by the Dominican priest Johann Balbus. In 1465, the publisher, as a chamberlain, entered the “eternal service” of the Archbishop of Mainz and Elector Adolf of Nassau. Since then, Gutenberg forgot about material hardships and was able to fully concentrate on what he loved. By that time the inventor was already an old man. He died in 1468, fortunately, having seen the beginning of the success of printing technology. Gutenberg was buried in Mainz, but his grave was forgotten and its location is unknown today.
The publisher's secret technology could not remain secret forever. After the death of the master, his faithful students spread the most valuable knowledge throughout Germany, and from there to other countries. Already in modern times, the name of the founder of book printing caused controversy and doubt among historians. The Gutenberg version triumphed only at the end of the 19th century, when his court papers and other documents were discovered, confirming that he was the first to create a printing press.
The German Johann Gutenberg, whose biography is described in this article, had a tremendous influence on the entire world around him. His invention truly changed the course of history.
Ancestors of Johannes Gutenberg
Since he was born and lived in the fifteenth century, very little information about him has been preserved. In those distant times, only prominent political and church figures were honored to be included in documentary sources. However, Johann was lucky. His work was appreciated by his contemporaries; information about him is found in various historical descriptions of that time.
It is known for certain that Johannes Gutenberg was born into a wealthy family of Friele Gensfleisch and Elsa Wirich. This happened around 1400.
His parents married in 1386. The mother came from a family of cloth merchants, so their union was considered unequal. From time immemorial, in the city there was a struggle between the patricians (the upper strata of the burghers, the father's family) and the guilds (artisans, the mother's family). When the confrontation in Mainz escalated, the family had to leave so as not to endanger their children.
In Mainz, the family had an estate named after the father's surname, Gensfleisch, and the Gutenberghof farmstead.
It is possible that the inventor had a knighthood, although his mother's background and his own activities contradict this. However, there is an ordinance signed by the French king Charles the Seventh, in which Gutenberg's name appears.
Childhood and youth
A brief biography of Johann is not contained in any of the ancient sources. It can be restored only from fragmentary data. That is why reliable information about the first years of his life simply does not exist.
There are no records of his baptism. However, some researchers believe that his birthday is June 24, 1400 (the day there is also no exact information about the place of his birth. It could be either Mainz or Strasbourg.
Johann was the youngest child in the family. The eldest son's name was Frile, there were also two girls - Elsa and Patze.
After graduating from school, the young man studied handicraft, deciding to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors on his mother’s side. It is known that he achieved the highest skill and received the title of master, since he subsequently trained apprentices.
Life in Strasbourg
Johannes Gutenberg lived in Strasbourg from 1434. He was engaged in jewelry making, polishing precious stones and producing mirrors. It was there that the idea of creating a machine that would print books arose in his head. In 1438, he even created an organization under the mysterious name "Enterprise with Art." The cover was the making of mirrors. This fellowship was organized jointly with his student Andreas Dritzen.
Around this time, Gutenberg and his team were on the verge of a brilliant discovery, but the death of his companion delayed the publication of his invention.
The invention of printing
The starting point of modern book printing is considered to be 1440, although there are no printed documents, books or sources from that time. There is only indirect evidence according to which a certain Waldfogel, starting in 1444, sold the secret of “artificial writing.” It is believed that this was John Gutenberg himself. Thus, he tried to get funds for the further development of his machine. So far it was just raised letters made of metal and carved in its mirror image. In order for the inscription to appear on the paper, it was necessary to use special paint and a press.
In 1448, the German returned to Mainz, where he made a deal with the moneylender I. Fust, who paid him eight hundred guilders annually. The profits from the printing house were to be shared as a percentage. But in the end this arrangement began to work against Gutenberg. He stopped receiving the promised money for technical support, but still shared the profits.
Despite all the troubles, by 1456 Johann Gutenberg's press had acquired several different fonts (five in total). At the same time, the first grammar of Aelius Donatus, several official documents and, finally, two Bibles were printed, which became historical monuments for printing.
The 42-line Gutenberg Bible, printed no later than 1455, is considered Johannes's magnum opus. It has survived to this day and is kept in the Mainz Museum.
For this book, the inventor created a special font, a variety. It turned out to be quite similar to the handwritten one due to the many ligatures and abbreviations that were customary for scribes.
Since existing inks were not suitable for printing, Gutenberg had to create his own. Due to the addition of copper, lead and sulfur, the text in the book turned out to be blue-black, with an unusual shine; red paint was used for headings. To combine two colors, one had to run the same page through the machine twice.
The book was published in a circulation of 180 copies, but few have survived to this day. The largest number is in Germany (twelve pieces). There was one copy of the first printed Bible in Russia, but after the revolution the Soviet government sold it at auction in London.
In the fifteenth century, this Bible was sold for 30 florins (3 grams of gold per coin). Today, one page from the book is valued at $80,000. There are a total of 1272 pages in the Bible.
Litigation
Johannes Gutenberg was twice brought to justice. This happened for the first time in 1439, after the death of his friend and companion A. Dritzen. His children claimed that the machine was actually their father's invention.
Gutenberg easily won the case. And thanks to his materials, the researchers learned at what stage of readiness the invention was. The documents contained words such as “embossing”, “printing”, “press”, “this work”. This clearly indicated that the machine was ready.
It is known for certain that the process stopped due to the lack of some parts left by Andreas. Johann had to restore them himself.
The second trial took place in 1455, when I. Fust filed a lawsuit against the inventor for non-payment of interest. The court ruled that the printing house and all its components were transferred to the plaintiff. Johannes Gutenberg invented printing in 1440, and fifteen years later he had to start all over again.
Last years
Having barely survived the consequences of the trial, Gutenberg decided not to give up. He joined the company of C. Gumeri and published in 1460 the work of Johann Balbus, as well as a Latin grammar with a dictionary.
In 1465 he entered the service of Elector Adolf.
The book printer died at the age of 68. He was buried in Mainz, but the location of his grave is currently unknown.
Spread of printing
What Johannes Gutenberg became famous for attracted many people. Everyone wanted easy money. Therefore, many people appeared who pretended to be the inventors of printing in Europe.
Gutenberg's name was recorded in one of his documents by Peter Schaeffer, his apprentice. After the destruction of the first printing house, its workers dispersed throughout Europe, introducing new technologies in other countries. Their teacher was Johannes Gutenberg. Printing quickly spread to Hungary (A. Hess), Italy (Sveichneym), and Spain. Oddly enough, none of Gutenberg's students went to France. Parisians independently invited German printers to work in their country.
The final point in the history of the creation of book printing was set by Anthony Van der Linde in his work in 1878.
Gutenberg studies
The personality of the European pioneer printer has always been popular. Researchers from many countries did not miss the opportunity to write any work about his biography or activities. Even during his lifetime, disputes began about the authorship of the invention and the place (Mainz or Strasbourg).
Some experts called Gutenberg the apprentice of Fust and Schaeffer. And despite the fact that Schaeffer himself called Johann the inventor of printing, these rumors did not subside for a long time.
Modern researchers call the main problem that the first printed books did not have a colophon, that is, a mark of authorship. By doing this, Gutenberg could have avoided many problems and would not have allowed his legacy to languish.
Little is known about the identity of the inventor also because there is no personal correspondence or reliable image of him. The amount of documentary evidence is insufficient.
Johannes Gutenberg invented unique typefaces that helped establish and confirm his legacy.
In Russia, interest in studying the life of the first printer appeared only in the middle of the twentieth century. The 500th anniversary of the invention of printing was celebrated at that time. The first researcher was Vladimir Lyublinsky, a representative of the scientific community of Leningrad.
In total, more than 3,000 scientific works have been written and published in the world (including a short biography of Gutenberg).
Memory
Unfortunately, no portraits of Johann survived during his lifetime. The first engraving, dating back to 1584, was written in Paris to describe the inventor's appearance.
Mainz is considered not only the hometown of Johann, but also the place of invention. Therefore, there is a monument to Gutenberg, his museum (opened in 1901).
An asteroid and a crater on the Moon are named after him.
For centuries, the knowledge contained in books was accessible to few. Libraries were mainly owned by monasteries and kings. Each manuscript was unique, because it took a lot of time to produce. In the Middle Ages, monks often spent years copying a single manuscript. This continued until approximately 1450. With the invention of printing, it became possible to publish books relatively cheaply and in large quantities.
Mirror maker
Johann Gensfleisch, who later changed his surname to Gutenberg, was born in Mainz around 1400 (the exact date is unknown). It is noteworthy that much more information has been preserved about the history of the invention of printing than about the inventor himself. Thus, historians know practically nothing about the first half of Gutenberg’s life. It is only known for certain that young Johann attended a monastery school. He then apprenticed as a goldsmith until his family moved to Strasbourg.
Here in 1434 he opened a factory where mirrors were made for pilgrims. They were very popular because believers hoped with their help to catch a piece of God's holy spirit, which, in their opinion, lived in the temples they visited. In the Middle Ages, trade in cult objects brought good income, so Gutenberg's business flourished.
Printed graphics
Engravings depicting saints were especially popular at that time. They were created using one of the first printing techniques - woodcut, which appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages. It was used to replicate texts and images.
Cutting out blocks to fit the page was a labor-intensive process. First, it was necessary to draw a mirror image of the page, then individual letters were cut out. The block was then smeared with ink, and so that it was absorbed, it was covered with paper, which was rubbed with a bone tool.
At the beginning of the 15th century, such engravings became more and more numerous. Sometimes several pieces were bound into a book. All this gave impetus to increasing the production of manuscripts. Moreover, at this time, not only monks, but also lay people were copyists of books.
Background to the invention of printing
By the 15th century there were about 80 universities in Western Europe. And the founding of new educational institutions only increased the demand for books. More accessible and cheaper copies were needed. All this created the conditions for the search for new techniques for creating books. Gutenberg, along with other inventors, took part in them.
In 1438, in Strasbourg, he and Andreas Dritzen began experimenting with printing. As a result, Gutenberg figured out how to use movable letters (types) to compose not only individual words, but entire pages. Moreover, he understood how to disassemble them in order to then compose a new text from them. However, further experiments with printing required financial investments.
Commercial transaction
Between 1445 and 1448, Gutenberg returned to his hometown, since in Strasbourg he could not interest anyone in his experiments. He had better luck in Mainz. He made a deal with Fust Johann, according to which the latter owned the capital in the common enterprise, and Gutenberg owned the idea and tools. However, after 2 years, the inventor had to again ask Fust to lend him money. This time on the security of the entire workshop.
Having received a new loan, Gutenberg was able to devote himself entirely to the invention of printing. He came up with a brilliant idea: to divide the text into components - punctuation marks, letters and ligatures, that is, their frequent combinations. All this was combined into blocks. Words and entire pages of text were typed in this way. Cast letters could be used repeatedly in different combinations.
How the letters were made
An inverted letter was engraved on the end of the metal rod. It was dipped into softened copper, making an imprint in it. The result was a matrix, which was a form for a font that was cast from lead. To make the process of making letters less time-consuming, Gutenberg invented a hand-casting tool. The matrix itself could be used to produce an unlimited number of letters.
From these, the typesetter created a layout for mirroring the page. It was smeared with printing ink - a mixture of egg white, varnish and soot. After these preparations, you could start printing. Gutenberg borrowed the principle of a mechanical machine from a wine press.
All this happened in 1450. The invention of printing is thus associated with this date. The first printed works of the German master were textbooks, papal decrees, official documents and indulgences.
Litigation
In the year of the invention of printing, the master began a gigantic task - publishing the Bible in Latin. Together with typesetters, Gutenberg spent more than two years printing the first edition of 100 thousand copies. The book was printed in a Gothic font based on handwritten letters. At the end, the artist decorated the Bible with colored drawings. Thus, a printed book was in no way inferior in beauty to a handwritten one. Not surprisingly, the first printing of the Bible quickly sold out. And Gutenberg's compatriots were stunned, because this was the first time they had seen so many identical books.
True, the inventor himself was not able to get rich thanks to the printing press. He didn't even get to finish printing the Bible because his lender, estimating future profits, demanded repayment of the loan. A legal battle ensued, resulting in Gutenberg losing both the printing press and all of his completed copies of the Holy Scriptures. Soon after these events, Mainz was captured by enemy troops, and the inventor was expelled from the city. Only three years later was he allowed to return to work for the new archbishop. Gutenberg died in February 1468, and the invention of printing in the German city of Mainz has since changed the world forever.
Diffusion of new technology
Very soon, printing presses began operating in Basel, Bamberg and Cologne. For the 15th century, the invention of printing was a truly revolutionary event. In Venice, printers working for the publisher Aldo Manuzzi came up with a new font - the serif. After a little time it was already used everywhere.
Only 20 years have passed since the invention of printing, but the new technology is already firmly rooted in everyday life. A large number of books were published in huge circulations for those times - about 1000 copies. As the written word became increasingly accessible, literacy rates in Europe rose and the number of readers increased.
Mark on history
Martin Luther, whose name is associated with the Reformation movement, was an ardent admirer of Gutenberg. The invention of printing led him to the idea that there was no point in waiting for a layman to retell what was written in the Bible, because now any person could read it himself. Luther printed a huge print run of his translation of the Holy Scriptures into German (half a million copies).
The secular authorities (the emperor and the free cities of the Holy Roman Empire) also used a new way of notifying the population. Therefore, soon one-page pamphlets became the main means of transmitting the latest news. For example, when the unusual positions of the planets were predicted in 1524, pamphlets foreshadowed a second global flood.
In addition, the date of the invention of printing is directly related to another, no less important milestone in history. We are talking about the appearance of the first daily newspaper “Fresh News”. This happened in 1650 in Leipzig. Despite all the improvements in printing that were made in subsequent centuries, it was Gutenberg who laid the foundation for the modern world of the press. His machine is considered one of the most important achievements of human civilization, and the date of the invention of printing is an epoch-making milestone in world history.