can you answer this like a 8th grader? Use the paragraph to answer the prompt. Many people believe a European named Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. However, Gutenberg’s press was actually building on inventions that appeared centuries earlier in China. A Buddhist book called The Diamond Sutra, printed around 868 C.E., is the oldest known printed book. It was printed using page-sized panels of wood blocks. These blocks were carved by hand with Chinese characters shown in reverse. Soon, more printed texts began to replace the traditional rolled-up scrolls. Calendars, dictionaries, and funeral and wedding guides were printed in the same way. Eventually, metal plates replaced the card wood blocks. In 2-3 sentences, summarize the information in the paragraph.

1 answer

The printing press was not solely invented by Johannes Gutenberg, but was built upon earlier inventions from China. The Diamond Sutra, the oldest known printed book from around 868 C.E., used wooden blocks that had Chinese characters carved in reverse and was a precursor to the press, eventually leading to the use of metal plates instead of wood blocks.