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In 1450, all Europe's books were handcopied
and amounted to no more than a few thousand. By 1500 they
were printed, and numbered in their millions. Printing made
possible the development of modern science and literature,
and the political shift from family fiefdoms to nation-states.
It brought about the biggest changes in human culture since
the invention of the alphabet itself.
Printing with movable type was an invention
waiting to happen, and it was Johann Gutenberg's vision
and drive that made it a reality. Through a combination
of technical genius and the ability to attract wealthy backers
the Mainz-born Gutenberg produced a bible of extravagant
and legendary beauty using the revolutionary method that
was to underpin and accelerate the rise of western culture.
Yet Gutenberg's story is full of paradox:
his ambition was to reunite all Christendom, but his invention
was used to shatter it; he aimed to make a fortune, but
was cruelly denied the fruits of his life's work.
Gutenberg struggled against a background
of plague, religious upheaval and legal battles to bring
his remarkable invention to light but once the secret of
printing with movable type was revealed, the world was never
the same again.
John Man is a historian with a background
in German studies and the history of science, and a special
interest in Mongolia. His most recent book is Alpha
Beta, about the roots of the Roman alphabet. He also
wrote Gobi: Tracking the Desert and The Atlas
of the Year 1000. He lives in London.
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