Johannes Gutenberg

1. Johannes Gutenberg 1398-1468

2. Introduction Johannes Gutenberg was a German goldsmith and inventor best known for the Gutenberg press, an innovative printing machine that used movable type. Gutenberg was born between 1394 and 1400 and died in 1468.

3. Family • He was the youngest of his family • Born in Mainz, Germany • His father was an upper-class merchant • His parents were Friele Gensfleisch zur Laden and Elese Wyrich

4. Before the Printing press • Books were written by hand. • In fact you could hardly call them books. • They were called Manuscripts for they were copied by hand

5. Before the Printing press • If a mistake was made the whole page was ruined. • A book cost as much a family farm • And Johannes LOVED to read

6. Wood block press • Each page had to be individually carved by hand • This made printing long manuscripts easier to mass produce • Yet slow for few printings

7. His Career • As a young man He loved to read. Unfortunately a single book could cost the same as a family farm • He decided to find a better way to print books • It took over 30 years but he finally came up with the Movable Type Printing press in 1436 

8. The Gutenberg Press • Gutenberg used individual “pieces” for each letter • He used metal instead of wood • This made it possible to print anything • He only needed a hand full of each letter