Johannes Gutenberg died in 1468 in Mainz, aged about 68. A German goldsmith and printer from Mainz, Gutenberg is credited with introducing movable-type printing to Europe in the middle of the fifteenth century. He developed a system of casting metal type in moulds, an oil-based ink and a press adapted from those used for wine and paper. The Gutenberg Bible, printed around 1455, is his best-known product and is celebrated for its quality. He was in financial difficulty and lost his equipment to his creditor, Johann Fust, and little is documented about his life. The spread of printing made books cheaper and helped drive the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution.
Before and after
- 15 May 1464Battle of Hexham
- 28 October 1466Birth of Erasmus
- 13 December 1466Death of Donatello
- from 1467 to 1590Sengoku period
- 1468Death of Johannes Gutenberg
- c. 1469Birth of Vasco da Gama
- 1469Origins of Sikhism
- 15 April 1469Birth of Guru Nanak
- 3 May 1469Birth of Niccolò Machiavelli
More in Science & technology
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 15th century.