Final answer:
Johannes Gutenberg invented the moveable type printing press in the mid-15th century, which significantly changed the production of books and contributed to the spread of literacy in Europe. His development of metal text and a letter block mold allowed for the mass production of books and sparked the printing revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Johannes Gutenberg and the Invention of the Moveable Type Printing Press
The moveable type printing press was invented in the mid-15th century by Johannes Gensfleisch Zur Laden zum Gutenberg, a well-educated craftsman, blacksmith, inventor, and publisher from a wealthy family. Gutenberg's innovation revolutionized the production of books, which were previously unique manuscripts handwritten by monks. Recognizing the growing demand for books as libraries opened up, he began to experiment by cutting text into individual letters and attaching them to wooden blocks. He later developed metal text and a letter block mold which standardized the sizes of the letters, enabling typesetters to arrange lines or pages of text uniformly.
Gutenberg's press was modeled after wine and apple presses, utilizing a screw design to apply pressure to the form. The culmination of his work was the printing of 180 bibles, a task which took two years and marked the start of the printing revolution. His printing methods were widely replicated and enhanced across Europe, leading to a significant increase in book production and a subsequent decline in illiteracy rates. Although movable type was invented centuries earlier in China and Korea, it did not reach Europe until Gutenberg's time.
The effects of Gutenberg's printing press are immense and have been described as the technical advance that facilitated subsequent technological advancements. By 1480, nearly every major European city hosted at least one printing press, with Venice emerging as the printing capital. The innovation of the printing press by Gutenberg is considered one of the most important inventions in European history, profoundly impacting the spread of knowledge and literacy.