In 1436, German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg began working on a printing machine in response to financial hardships from a failed mirror business. By 1440, he developed a printing press with a mobile, reusable type system, and by 1454, he was commercially printing indulgences for the Church. His major accomplishment came in 1455 with the production of the 42-line Bible, the first book printed with movable type in the West. Gutenberg's press utilized a modified screw press for faster text assembly and featured oil-based ink for improved printing efficiency. This innovation initiated the Printing Revolution, vastly enhancing the spread of knowledge among various intellectual and religious communities.
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In 1436, German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg began developing a machine to produce text rapidly, initially as a response to financial losses from his failed mirror business. By 1440, he had created the foundational design of the printing press, including a mobile, reusable type system, and by 1454, he was using it commercially, printing thousands of indulgences for the Church. His most notable achievement came in 1455 with the printing of the 42-line Bible, the first book produced with movable type in the West. Gutenberg's press combined various inventions, including a traditional screw press modified to accommodate individually cast letters, allowing for quicker assembly of text compared to earlier block printing. He also developed an oil-based ink that improved the printing process. This innovative method significantly increased printing efficiency and marked the start of the Printing Revolution, greatly enhancing the dissemination of knowledge among scientists, philosophers, politicians, and religious figures.
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