The Spread of Knowledge – The Invention of the Printing Press
Explore how the printing press contributed to historical change
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TECHNOLOGY AND HISTORICAL CHANGE
Johann Gutenberg invented moveable metal type and a printing press in Mainz, Germany about 1450. He was able to use his skill as a goldsmith to create individual metal letters. These letters were used to set up a page which was placed in a frame in the printing press. Once the letters of the page were inked, paper was pressed down on it. This was repeated until all the pages of the book were printed. The Bible was the first book printed by Gutenberg. This book sold for a tenth of the
price of a similar manuscript of the Bible. Very soon printing presses were set up in other German cities. Five years later, Italy had its first printing press, and there were over a hundred there by 1500. The printing press spread the learning of Renaissance Italy into Northern Europe.
How did the printing press work?
-century printing house with the descriptions A to I below. A. The owner and master of the printing house
Match each of the elements numbered 1 to 9 on this drawing based on a scene from a 16th
B. Delivering paper C. Inking the letters (or type) D. Setting up the type E. Reading manuscript F. Printed pages drying G. An apprentice learning the trade
H. Boxes of letters I. Printer working the printing press
Write your own description of how pages were printed.
