Tuesday, September 23, 2008

moveable type + gutenburg

Johannes Gutenburg was born in 1400 in Mainz, Germany to an upper class merchant and a shopkeeper. He became a German goldsmith and printer, who has been credited with inventing moveable type printing. The moveable type printing press is a process using oil-based ink and the use of a wooden printing press that was similar to the olive and wine presses that were popular at the time. His method for making type included a type metal alloy.His invention of the printing press has had a remarkable impact on the world because it allowed mass production of books that up until then were handwritten. Because books were able to be produced so much faster and more efficiently it helped to foster development in the sciences, arts, and religion. It quickly spread throughout Europe has been considered a key factor in the European Renaissance. Moveable type also allowed characters to be used and over and over again which cut down on cost and time. The printing press was basis of the printing industry until the later invention of hot metal press. Gutenburg created the world's first book using movable type, the 42- line Gutenburg Bible. 

Quiz Question: Why did the invention of moveable type have such a large impact on the arts?

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