Johann Gutenberg

Johannes Gutenberg

Born	Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg c. 1398 Mainz, Electorate of Mainz
Died	February 3, 1468 (aged 70) Mainz, Electorate of Mainz
Occupation	Engraver, inventor, and printer
Known for	The invention of the movable-type printing press

Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (/joʊˈhɑːnᵻs, -ˈhænᵻs ˈɡuːtənbɜːrɡ/yoh-HAH-nəs GOO-tən-burg; c. 1398 – February 3, 1468) was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe. His introduction of mechanical movable type printing to Europe started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important invention of the second millennium, the seminal event which ushered in the modern period of human history. It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, and the scientific revolution and laid the material basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and the spread of learning to the masses.