Background
Gutenberg introduced printing to the world in the 1450's, allowing the Renaissance to spread new ideas to a larger audience. More books began to be written in "vernacular" instead of Latin. Before Gutenberg invented printing, people slowly coppied books by hand-- each letter was carved separately. Gutenberg learned to make metal letters called "type," which he placed in rows to create pages. He was the first European to use movable type printing. Each page was held together by a frame. The frame was fixed to a press and the inky press was pressed onto the surface of the type paper. This helped make copies of books faster and cheaper due to the movable type that could easily be replicated. Although Gutenberg's important achievement made a major advancement to printing of the time, he did not make much profit from it.
Gutenberg took the ideas of mass-producing movable type, use of oil-based ink, and the use of wooden printing presses and combined them all. Between 1450 and 1455, he printed several texts such as church documents including a papal letter and two indulgences. Seven editions of these were ordered, leading to 7,000 copies being produced. Some printed editions of a Latin grammar school book were found printed by Gutenberg. In 1455, completed copies of a Bible- Biblia Sacra, 42 lines each page, was sold for 30 "florins" each which was the equivalence of three years' wage for an average clerk.
Printing was very big in the Reformation as Martin Luther's 95 Theses were printed and circulated widely. Broadsheets were also issued for the anti-indulgences position. These broadsheets contributed to the development of the newspaper.
Gutenberg took the ideas of mass-producing movable type, use of oil-based ink, and the use of wooden printing presses and combined them all. Between 1450 and 1455, he printed several texts such as church documents including a papal letter and two indulgences. Seven editions of these were ordered, leading to 7,000 copies being produced. Some printed editions of a Latin grammar school book were found printed by Gutenberg. In 1455, completed copies of a Bible- Biblia Sacra, 42 lines each page, was sold for 30 "florins" each which was the equivalence of three years' wage for an average clerk.
Printing was very big in the Reformation as Martin Luther's 95 Theses were printed and circulated widely. Broadsheets were also issued for the anti-indulgences position. These broadsheets contributed to the development of the newspaper.
Primary Source:
The 95 Theses were a list written by Martin Luther about his views on the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. Gutenberg, invented a printing press, which printed copies of the 95 Theses. Some of the Theses stated "A sinner must be humble infront of his priest before god can forgive him", "A dead soul cannot be saved by an indulgence.", and "Let Christians experience problems if they must and overcome them rather than live a false life based on present Catholic teaching." This document was written in another langauge. Because Martin Luther hated the pope, he didnt think the pope deserved power.
Gutenberg proved that the Reformation and Renaissance could be redefined as a time of literature. His invention of the printing press allowed for many copies of books, Bibles, important religious papers, and important news to spread much faster. New news, ideas, and education were now available to people cheaper and in different languages. In this situation involving the 95 Theses, mass copies were able to be produced and spread in order to persuade people to jump on the bandwagon and agree with the revolt.
Works Cited
Highlands Ranch High School. "Gutenberg Printing Press - Renaissance Invention." Gutenberg Printing Press - Renaissance Invention. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
"Johannes Gutenberg." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 June 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
"Johannes Gutenberg." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 June 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.