15 Fun Facts About History's Inventions That Changed The World

2. The Printing Press: Spreading Knowledge

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century marked a turning point in the dissemination of knowledge. Before its advent, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them rare and expensive. Gutenberg's printing press democratized access to information, paving the way for the Renaissance and the spread of literacy. An intriguing fact about the printing press is that Gutenberg himself did not profit from his invention; he was embroiled in legal battles that left him bankrupt. Despite this, his press sparked a cultural revolution, enabling the mass production of books and the rapid spread of ideas. The printing press also played a crucial role in the Reformation, as Martin Luther's 95 Theses were widely distributed thanks to this technology. As we reflect on the printing press, we see how it transformed society by making knowledge accessible to the masses, setting the stage for the modern information age.