Boktrykkerkunsten johann gutenberg biography

Johannes Gutenberg: The Inventor Who Democratized Information

Few inventors in history can claim a legacy as far-reaching as that of Johannes Gutenberg.

His movable type printing press, invented in secret in the 1440s and 1450s, overturned the media world and changed the course of history.

Born in Mainz, Germany sometime between 1394 and 1404, Johannes Gutenberg was the son of an exiled patrician who worked as a merchant.

While little recorded history exists on Gutenberg’s early life, we know he grew up in merchant family that quickly found itself ostracized.

Mainz: A Hotbed of Trade and Social Unrest

By the early 15th century, the bustling trade hub of Mainz had grown wealthier, fueling tensions between ruling families, religious leaders, guild craftsmen and others thirsting for more influence.

Gutenberg’s patrician family likely felt shaky as the emerging middle class chafed under noble rule, accused elite mer