Daniel Oshri

Honors Western Civilization

Mr. Balletto

December 2, 2020

Johannes Gutenberg Biography

The Renaissance was a period of great renewal

and interest in learning and the arts across Europe at

the end of the Middle Ages. During this period,

between the 14th and 17th centuries, there were many

advances in arts, literature, and the sciences. One of

the great inventors during this time was Johannes

Gutenberg, a German craftsman and inventor, who is

credited with perhaps the most revolutionary

inventions in the history of the modern world – the

moveable metal type and the printing press.

Gutenberg’s inventions are significant since they

made it possible for books to be mass-produced in an efficient, quick and cheaper way, as

opposed to by hand. Thanks to Gutenberg’s inventions, the ideas of the Renaissance were able to

spread and be introduced to more people across Europe and beyond.

Gutenberg was Born in Mainz, Germany around 1395 (the exact date is unknown). His

full name was Johann Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg, and he was the third son of a

modest merchant named Friele zum Gensfleisch and his second wife Else Wirick zum

Gutenberg. Much of Gutenberg’s early life is undocumented, but some financial records indicate
that he apprenticed as a goldsmith while living in Mainz. Gutenberg and his family were exiled

from Mainz during a bitter struggle between the guilds in that city and the nobles around 1428.

He is believed to have moved to Strassburg (now Strasbourg, France) between 1428 and 1430. In

Strassburg, Gutenberg worked in crafts such as gem cutting and he also taught crafts. While

living there, he also started experimenting with printing. At that point he was already familiar

with bookmaking and starting perfecting

small metal type. Some historians believe

that Gutenberg attended the University of

Erfurt. Legal documents also suggest that

he was engaged to a young woman from

Strasbourg around 1437, but that the

engagement was broken.

Gutenberg eventually moved back

to Mainz in 1448 and started a print shop two years later, in 1450. At this time, he started making

much progress with his printing experiments and was able to borrow 800 guilders (a significant

investment) from wealthy financier Johann Fust, to purchase tools and equipment that he needed

to develop his typography method. Although moveable type was used in Asia hundreds of years

earlier, Gutenberg developed a casting system and metal alloys, which made production easier.

The metal alloy that he created made melting easier and cooled quickly to form reusable type. He

also created oil-based ink, which could stick well to the metal type and transfer well to paper or

vellum (paper made from animal skin). Gutenberg’s printing press is said to have been adapted

from techniques used in producing wine, oil, and paper, which applied even and firm pressure to

surfaces.
 Prior to this invention, wooden blocks would be used to press ink onto paper, which

could produce about 40-50 pages per day. Gutenberg’s invention would produce thousands of

pages per day, making them more affordable and obtainable. However, by 1452 Gutenberg was

in a lot of debt and was not able to pay back Fust’s loan. They soon drew up a new agreement,

which allowed Fust partnership in Gutenberg’s business and provided the business with another

loan. Even by 1455, Gutenberg was still unable to pay Fust’s debt and Fust soon sued him.

Gutenberg was ordered to pay Fust for the two loans that he had borrowed from him, plus

interest, which is believed to have come to be around 2,020 guilders. Although there are no clear

records, it is believed that Gutenberg printed his most important work, the Forty-Two Line Bible,

which is now known as the Gutenberg Bible, while the trial was occurring. This Bible was the

first to be mass-produced and be available to those outside the church. Fust ended up winning the

trial and took over most of Gutenberg’s printing business, which included production of his

Bibles and part of Gutenberg’s printing equipment. Soon after, Fust’s son-in-law, Peter Schoffer,

became Fust’s partner in the business that he took over from Gutenberg.

Gutenberg is also believed to have created the printed book, the Psalter (the book of

Psalms), in 1457, which was also given to Fust as part of the lawsuit. The Psalter included

hundreds of two color initial letters and delicate scroll borders. The decorations were made using

a method of multiple inking on a single metal block. Although this book displayed the name of

its printers as Fust and Schoffer, historians believe that they could not have developed such a

sophisticated method alone, between when Gutenberg lost control of his business in 1455 and

1457, and that Gutenberg must have worked on it. In addition to Gutenberg’s other inventions, it

is believed that he also created copper engraving and printing.

 In 1462, Gutenberg’s old printing business was destroyed in a political dispute over

control of Mainz. Many of the city’s typographers fled to other parts of Germany and Europe,

taking the printing techniques and technology with them. Gutenberg stayed in Mainz and

continued printing, but little is known about his other works since he didn’t put his name on any

of his works. In 1465, the Archbishop of Mainz gave Gutenberg the title of Hofmann (gentleman

of the court), which provided Gutenberg with a salary and certain privileges.

There is not much record of Gutenberg’s later years but it is believed that he lost his sight

in the last months of his life. Gutenberg is believed to have died around February 3, 1468 and

was buried in the Church of the Franciscan convent in Eltville, Germany. Gutenberg’s inventions

helped spread the ideas of the period throughout Europe. They are considered perhaps the most

important inventions of the modern world since they helped transmit knowledge during a period

of great learning and spread of ideas.

Bibliography

Johannes Gutenberg. (2020). Retrieved November 28, 2020, from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johannes-Gutenberg

Biography. (2020). Retrieved November 28, 2020, from

https://www.ducksters.com/biography/johannes_gutenberg.php

Johannes Gutenberg. (2020, June 16). Retrieved November 28, 2020, from
https://www.biography.com/inventor/johannes-gutenberg