Johann Gutenberg’s Invention Of The Printing Press Research Paper

For centuries the knowledge, concluded in books, was a property of the few, generally monks and priests. Each book was unique, but for most of the people in the Middle Ages this problem didn't stand — they were illiterate. The world's first movable type printing press was invented and in China in an eleventh century. Then, “the Mongolian invasion of Europe served as a bridge between different cultural worlds” (“Mongol invasion of Europe”, n.d.). In the Middle Ages, the books were copied by hand, usually in monasteries. Often monks spent years for one book. In year 1450 one invention changed the world (“Printing”, 2015).
In the German city of Mainz, Johann Gutenberg invented equipment of the press by means of mobile letters. Now it was possible to print books in a large number and it was rather cheap. The technical foundation for future changes in the field of science, policy and religion was laid.
Johann Gensfleisch, who later changed a surname to Gutenberg, was born in Mainz about year 1400. His father was the rich merchant. Young Johann went to the monastic school. It is that, what we know, but then his track was lost for a long time.
He appeared only in year 1434 in Strasbourg again. Here he founded a factory on the production of mirrors for pilgrims. They were very popular with the believers hoping to catch in a mirror a God's part of the spirit of each temple and relics which are stored in them. Gutenberg's business prospered.
Foundation of the first universities increased demand for books. Libraries which increased availability of books were created. Cheaper, available books were necessary. But there is more to come. Scientists, for example, needed identical copies. Desperate searches of new technology were conducted.
Gutenberg participated in these searches too. In 1448, he returned to Mainz. Here he found financial support and could be engaged in the enterprise. The brilliant thought came to his mind. He divided the text into components: letters, punctuation marks and their frequent combinations — ligatures. They were united in blocks, typing words, lines and pages. Cast letters could be reused in different combinations.
Here is how the letter becomes: on the end of a metal rod the turned letter is engraved. It is drenched in the softened copper, leaving in it a print. This matrix acts as a form of the real font which is cast from lead (“What Did Gutenberg Invent? - The printing process”).
That it was possible to make letters quickly and in enough quantity, Gutenberg took one more important step — he invented the tool for manual molding. It consisted of a rectangular trench. In one side inserted a matrix, from another, poured the melted lead. When the form was opened, the ready letter from the lead led inside. The matrix could be used for production of unlimited number of letters.
At last, the typesetter started making the model of letters. Then he inserted lines into a form to make the necessary sequence. As a result mirror display of the page turns out. The form is greased with typographical paint. Gutenberg used mix of soot, varnish and egg's white. Now it is possible to start printing. Gutenberg had a special machine, but the principle he borrowed at a wine press.
The first possible item, printed in such way, was a German Poem (Klooster, 2009). Then official documents, papal decrees and textbooks became Gutenberg's works. But soon he undertook a huge work — the Bible in Latin. For this purpose, he casted more than hundred thousand letters. For more than two years typesetters and Gutenberg's printers worked on the first circulation of hundred thousand copies. The text was printed in the Gothic font based on a hand-written tracing of letters. At last, the artist decorated the text with color drop caps and drawings. With his Bible, one of the most beautiful printing books in the world, Gutenberg proved that the book printed in the typographical way can be as beautiful, as hand-written one.
In 20 years after Gutenberg's invention, the new technology strongly took positions. Thousands of books were published. They became available to average people, the level of literacy and the number of potential readers increased. On February 3, 1468 Johann Gutenberg died. He was buried in Franciscan church in Mainz (“English Bible History”, n.d.). But his invention — the press by mobile letters — forever changed the world.
The speed of typographical text production, and also strong falling of prime cost of a unit of production, led to the edition of the first newspapers which began completely new area for transfer of actual information to the public.
Also, the printing press was a purpose for an establishment of a scientific community that could easily share their inventions by the means of different scholarly journals. And in such way scientific revolution came closer and closer.

References

Mongol invasion of Europe (n.d.). New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved from:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mongol_invasion_of_Europe
(paragraph 2)
Klooster, John W. (2009). Icons of Invention: the makers of the modern world from
Gutenderg to Gates. Santa Barbara, CA.
(https://books.google.com.ua/books?id=WKuG-VIwID8C&pg=PR3&lpg=PR3&dq=Klooster,+John+W.+(2009).+Icons+of+invention:&source=bl&ots=KEG-gSA1IH&sig=PerOv7lz58W0Awrxfe92NctrPDw&hl=uk&sa=X&ei=b5PvVNvzJtL3atKwgoAL&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Klooster%2C%20John%20W.%20(2009).%20Icons%20of%20invention%3A&f=false – p. 8 paragraph 2)
Printing. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/477017/printing/36836/The-invention-of-typography-Gutenberg-1450
What Did Gutenberg Invent? - The printing process. (2005). The Open University. Retrieved
(Paragraph about Invention)
English Bible History (n.d.). Retrieved from:
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-
bible-history/gutenberg.html
(last paragraph)