GUTENBERG PRINTING PRESS

Johannes Gutenberg was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced
printing to Europe. His invention was one of the most important events of the modern period. It played a
key role in the development of the Renaissance. The printing press led to the first mass production of
books in History. A single Renaissance printing
press could produce 3,600 pages per workday.
Books of bestselling authors such as Luther and
Erasmus were sold by the hundreds of thousands
in their lifetime.

Printing soon spread

However, the first book in English was not until 25
years later in 1475. By 1500, printing presses in
operation throughout Western Europe had
already produced more than twenty million
volumes. Before the invention of the printing
press, the majority of books were written and
copied by hand. Because of this, books were very expensive, and only the rich could afford them.

The bibles of Gutenberg, printed in Latin, gained fame as the first books ever printed in Europe.
Two-hundred copies were made, each complete with beautiful illustrations and vibrant colours. Part of
Gutenberg’s genius was his technique for creating blocks to represent the calligraphy done in hand-made
volumes, so that the richness of the original texts could be preserved. Characters and illustrations were
later hand-illuminated. Today, only 22 of the original Gutenberg bibles are known to be in existence. On
October 23, 1987 a bible of Gutenberg was sold at public auction and purchased by Japanese who paid 5.4
million dollars. One of the 22 bibles of Gutenberg is located on the Museum of the Book in Burgos.

The printing press helped to inspire a religious revolution as families were for the first time able to
possess a Bible for their own interpretation.

The immediate effect of the printing press was to multiply the number of books and cut the
costs of them. It made information available to a much larger segment of the population who
were, of course, eager for information. Printing also facilitated the dissemination and preservation
of knowledge. The printing press initiated an "information revolution". Printing could and did
spread new ideas quickly and with greater impact. Printing stimulated the literacy of the people.
Although most of the earliest books were religious, soon upper and middle class people bought
books on all subjects.
1. Write down in your notebook the meaning of the underlined words.
Blacksmith: Herrero.
Goldsmith:
Printer: impresor.
Publisher: editor.
Printing press: impresora.
Workday: día trabajado.
Bestselling: mejor vendido.
Spread: esparcir, difundir.
Expensive: caro.
Afford: permitirse (un lujo).
Hand-made: hecho a mano.
Richness: riqueza.
Auction: subasta.
Purchased: comprador.
Available: disponible.
Dissemination: diseminación.
Upper class: clase alta.

2. True or false, change false sentences into true.

i. False. Gutenberg printed 200 Bibles.
ii. True. A bible of Gutenberg was sold at auction for 5.4 million dollars.
iii. False. In 1987 a Japanese bought at public auction of Bible of Gutenberg.
iv. False. The first book in English was printed in 1475.
v. True. The printing press facilitated the dissemination and conservation of
knowledge.
vi. False. First books ever printed were bibles.
vii. False. Gutenberg was an German goldsmith.
viii. True. Before the invention of the printing press, the majority of books were written
and copied by hand.
3. Answer the questions:
a. In what European country Gutenberg was born? He was born in Germany.
b. If you want to see a Gutenberg's Bible, what Spanish city you have to visit? You have
to visit Burgos.
c. What positive effects brought the invention of the printing press?
d. Who was Johannes Gutenberg? A German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer and
publisher that invented the printer.
 4. Make a sentence using these words: Gutenberg, Bible, Auction.
One of Gutenberg’s bible was purchased in a auction,
5. Make a sentence using these words: Bible, illustrated, pages.
The bible’s pages were beautifully illustrated.
6. Make a sentence using these words: Mainz, printing press, Gutenberg.
Gutenberg’s printing press was spread from Mainz to over two hundred cities in a dozen
European countries.