Final answer:
Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1436 was a significant historical event that led to the Printing Revolution, greatly increased book production, reduced illiteracy, and had a lasting impact on European society and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Beginnings of the Printing Revolution, The introduction of mechanical movable type printing to Europe by Johannes Gensfleisch Zur Laden zum Gutenberg was a pivotal moment in history that marked the beginning of the Printing Revolution.
Gutenberg's printing press, derived from previous printing technologies in China and Korea, was significant for its use of metal movable types and a press mechanism similar to wine or apple presses. With his printing press, Gutenberg produced around 180 copies of a Bible in 1455, which was a monumental leap in book production and facilitated a decline in illiteracy rates.
Prior to Gutenberg's innovation, books in 14th-century Europe were painstakingly copied by hand, primarily by monks in monasteries. Gutenberg's invention made it possible to produce numerous identical copies of texts, democratizing access to knowledge and stimulating intellectual movements like Humanism, the Renaissance, and the Protestant Reformation.
By 1480, nearly every major European city had at least one printing press, and the technology had a profound impact on society, including the spread of classical texts, fostering new philosophies, and challenging the Catholic Church's authority. The lasting influence of Gutenberg's press is seen in the fonts and typesetting standards still used today in the publishing industry.