Excerpt:
Technical innovations, a marked increase in written communication even outside monastery walls, attempts to reform the church, a first spread of humanistic thought, as well as new art forms were some of the positive developments of this time. On the negative side however horrible inquisition proceedings and many long-lasting wars were also part of the many contradictions of Johannes Gutenberg’s century.
Only when looking at it within the context of these changing times can Gutenberg’s invention be understood. The schedule of events of the 15th century presents an overview of the political and cultural developments of this era. Further information on the life and work of the inventor can then be found in a comprehensive summary of the most important dates and facts or in the detailed article on Gutenberg and his time
Annotation:
This visually appealing site contains information about the life and times of Johannes Gutenberg, European inventor of the printing press. The English translation of the original German site is still in progress thus some of the links, such as that the Gutenberg Bible, are not yet available. Links to a biography of Gutenberg and to the technology of printing have been translated and may be of use to scholars researching the history of print and book technology. The essays are complimented by an assortment of images that may also be of some interest.