Before the 15th century, all books in Europe were laboriously hand-copied manuscripts, making them rare and expensive.

Johannes Gutenberg, a goldsmith from Mainz, Germany, invented the printing press with movable metal type around 1450.

His invention combined several key elements: individual metal letters (type), a special ink that would adhere to the type, and a screw press adapted from wine-making.

The first major book printed by Gutenberg using this technology was the Gutenberg Bible.

The printing press allowed for the rapid and accurate production of identical texts on a massive scale.

This dramatically lowered the cost of books, making them accessible to a much wider audience for the first time.

The invention fueled a significant increase in literacy rates across Europe.

It played a crucial role in spreading the ideas of the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution.

Printing helped to standardize languages and challenge the control of information previously held by the church and state.

Gutenberg's invention is widely considered one of the most important in human history.