GENIUS #7: Johannes Gutenberg
A study on Johannes Gutenberg, a man who forever shaped the course of humanity
Welcome to this edition of GENIUS: a study on the top intellectuals and creatives from modern history. In today’s newsletter, we’re profiling Johannes Gutenberg, a man whose innovation began the Printing Revolution and enabled the mass production of written literature.
Johannes Gutenberg
1400 - 1468
Background:
The first known iterations of the moveable printing technique come from East Asia in Chinese and Korean scripts. However, Johannes Gutenberg is widely known as the man that introduced the movable type printing method to Europe, kickstarting the modern period of human history.
Growing up as a bookmaker, Gutenberg experimented with the science of printing and eventually perfected the small metal type. Before his discovery, Europeans relied on carving complete woodblocks. After, printers could cast metal molds of each letter or character, thereby expediting the mass production of literature.
Gutenberg’s novel invention facilitated the modern knowledge-based economy and spread literature to the masses. Instead of the elite only having access to worldly ideas, suddenly this information was democratized to all because of a cheaper and faster printing mechanism. The Renaissance, Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, and the scientific revolution can all point to the modern printing press as a key enabler.
Historical Accomplishments:
Printed the first-ever book, the “Forty-Two-Line” Bible, in Europe using the moveable type method.
Invented the modern moveable type by combining the use of oil-based ink, adjustable molds, and a wooden printing press. The adjustable molds relied on a metal alloy, which melted at a relatively low temperature, enabling welders to create single-letter casts more easily. This process helped make the production of printed books more economically viable because it required less human intervention.
Lasting Impact to Society:
Gutenberg pioneered new innovations in printing technology, enabling a new era of information sharing. Before the mass production of literature, most printed books were disseminated by the Church and other elite institutions that could afford the expensive printing process. Therefore, they also controlled the flow of information. By reducing the cost of printing, Gutenberg allowed more printers to produce books and other pieces of information that challenged the status quo. For example, it’s believed that his new printing method helped Martin Luther spread his 95 Theses around Europe. The arrival of mass communication permanently shifted the structure of society, one that openly discussed and circulated information. Revolutionary ideas transcended borders, threatening the status quo vanguard of political and religious authorities.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johannes-Gutenberg
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/libraries-books-and-printing-biographies/johann-gutenberg
https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/j/Johannes_Gutenberg.htm
https://www.biography.com/inventor/johannes-gutenberg