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Who is considered the father of Printing?

Author: Kim Smith
by Kim Smith
Posted: Aug 20, 2018

The story of the father of printing erases confusions on how the modern human development took place. It is an inspiring story to know how a single invention can change the face of the world and what the era before Online Printing looked like.

The printing world revers Johann Gutenberg as the ‘Father of Modern Printing’ for his amazing contribution to printing, which now has transformed to online printing. Johann Gutenberg was a German and had many talents from being a blacksmith, goldsmith, engraver, a printer and the publisher too.

He was born in 1395 AD as Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg and lived until 1468 AD. His fame associated with the first mechanically movable type printing-machine he invented and introduced it to Europe. This was the first prototype model of the rotary printing machine.

Movable type printing press and its process

The letters were the movable type that put together for making a printable page with an option to change with another letter. This helped in forming sentences and complete document. The principles of printing have not changed in the 21st-century printing methods, which includes online printing also.

Impact of his Printing invention on the world

This invention made a huge impact, not only on the printing world but also on the progression of the scientific revolution. This printing invention also started an uproar that prompted progression in literacy, science, and world economy. It is important to understand at what level, his invention changed the world.

  • His invention facilitated the printing of books, before his machine, the writers used to write books by hand. That way of writing books by hands was the cumbersome job. Moreover, those hand-written books were limited to very few readers. However, the printing of the book that started after his invention went to thousands of hands. This helped to spread education and knowledge to the world.
  • Social & Religious awareness- In 1450 AD his printing machine got a big order to print the Bible from Church. This he worked on no profit basis. He borrowed money to set up another machine. He also employed workers for typesetting, which was a slow process in those days. The book after printing went to many church devotees and became a revered book in every home. His invention created a social awareness and brought about huge changes in society.

Ironically, despite what Gutenberg contributed to the modern world, for him, this invention was a financial disappointment. His aim was to improve the machine and achieve perfection in the printing. He could not exploit the situation to boost his business. The great printing inventor brought to the court by his creditor. The court awarded the possession of his workshop and Bible typeset to the creditor. He tried to set another workshop but the venture flopped. Only the allowance from Archbishop of Mainz got him through the last days of his life.

American writer Mark Twain said about Gutenberg

"What the world is today, good and bad, it owes to Gutenberg. Everything can be traced to this source, but we are bound to bring him homage for the bad that his colossal invention has brought about is overshadowed a thousand times by the good with which mankind has been favored."

The father of Printing, Gutenberg and his invention are unforgettable when you wonder that the Online Printing has its ancestry dates back to him.

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Author: Kim Smith

Kim Smith

Member since: Jun 19, 2018
Published articles: 16

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