How a Gutenberg printing press works

Invented in 1440 the printing press changed the world. Global communication became possible. Here's how it works.

The invention of the printing machine in 1448

The printing press invented by German goldsmith Johann Gutenberg in 1448 has been called one of the most important inventions in the history of humankind. 

The device made it possible for the first time for the common man, woman and child to have access to books, which meant they would for the first time have unprecedented ability to accumulate knowledge.

Before the invention of the printing press, the majority of books were written and copied by hand. Block printing was becoming more popular, which involved carving each page of a text into a block of wood and pressing each block onto paper. Because these processes were so labor-intensive, books were very expensive, and only the rich could afford them.

http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/gutenberg.html