Question

Give a brief account of the Gutenberg printing press.

Answer 1

Instructions:

• Establish the need for the Gutenberg press
• Explain how Johann Gutenberg filled the gap
• Solution:
  • Traditional woodblock printing could not cater to the growing demand for books.
  • Johann Gutenberg with his knowledge of olive presses and moulding trinkets with intricate designs built a printing press with movable metal types. He perfected its design in 1448. It was called the Gutenberg press.
  • He printed about 180 copies of the Bible in just three years.
  • The invention of the Gutenberg press kickstarted the print revolution that transformed the lives of people across the world.