The Medieval Invention That Changed The Course Of History | The Machine That Made Us | Timeline

The video introduces the significance of books as building blocks of civilization and sets out to explore the genius behind the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg. It highlights the revolutionary impact of his invention, which opened the door to the modern age, and introduces an experiment to build a medieval printing press to understand his methods. The host recounts his early experience with a 'John Bull' printing outfit, explaining the core concept of movable type and its ability to mass-produce identical pages.

Gutenberg's printing machine, invented over 500 years ago, is described as the most revolutionary technological advance since the wheel. The British Library, with its miles of shelves and millions of books added annually, serves as a testament to this invention. The printing press enabled the mass production of books, spreading new ideas, theories, philosophy, and propaganda across Europe and beyond, igniting the Renaissance. The Gutenberg Bible, one of the first and finest books produced by his machine, symbolized the dawn of a new information age in the 1450s.

The host embarks on an experiment to build a fully operational Gutenberg-style printing press in a workshop using 15th-century materials and techniques. Alan May, a printing expert, is tasked with the construction. Since no original Gutenberg presses survive, and no illustrations exist from that early period, Alan's task is an unprecedented detective story. They discuss the common features of early presses, noting that Gutenberg's original press printed one page at a time, unlike later two-pull common presses, influencing the design of their experimental machine.

The journey begins in Mainz, Gutenberg's birthplace. Despite heavy bombing in WWII, some traces of the medieval city survive. The host learns that Gutenberg's real family name was Gensfleisch (goose meat) and discusses the flexibility of his birth date around 1400. Little evidence exists about Gutenberg's early years, but it's known his father was a merchant involved with goldsmiths, a skill that would later prove crucial. Gutenberg likely studied at university and was exposed to books, a rarity at the time. The lack of accurate portraits of Gutenberg is also highlighted.

The video contrasts the world before printing with a visit to Kloster Eberbach, a monastery near Mainz. Hand-copied Bibles were rare, expensive, and prone to scribal errors. The printing machine offered exact copies and mass production, a concept that appealed to some church leaders who sought a universally accepted Bible. Beyond the church, new universities created a growing demand for books. Gutenberg is presented as an engineer, merchant, and intellectual who recognized the burgeoning market for printed materials. His inspiration for the press might have come from local wine presses, common in the wine-growing region of Mainz.

Mainz in the 15th century was a city of past glory, not ideal for a budding entrepreneur. In the early 1430s, Gutenberg moved to Strasbourg, a bustling city with trade links across Europe, offering a more promising business environment. The city's cathedral, still under construction, symbolizes the shift from investing in the afterlife to the rise of a merchant class investing in earthly futures. Gutenberg formed a partnership with three investors. He found inspiration in the 'Street of the Scribes,' realizing his invention could replace their labor. Due to secrecy and a need for a second revenue stream, Gutenberg and his partners attempted to mass-produce mirrors for pilgrims, a plan foiled by the Black Death delaying the pilgrimage, causing financial setbacks.

Gutenberg's success hinged on mass-producing individual, movable letters. He collaborated with a goldsmith named Hans Dun, making the crucial technical breakthrough. The process of making a single letter 'E' is demonstrated, starting with carving a steel punch, which took considerable time and skill for a full set of type. The need for multiple versions of each letter for perfect justification is explained. The critical invention was the type mold, an ingenious device allowing molten metal (lead, tin, antimony) to be poured into a matrix, forming an exact, identical letter quickly and cheaply. This revolutionary process made mass production of text possible.

The assembled printing press is revealed, showcasing Alan May's craftsmanship in recreating a Gutenberg-style machine. The host expresses admiration for its simple yet cunning design, particularly the double-threaded screw mechanism, which is more complex than it initially appears. Despite uncertainties about its exact similarity to Gutenberg's original, the press 'feels right' and looks historically accurate. The excitement grows as the press gets closer to its first print run.

Back in Mainz in the late 1440s, Gutenberg secured funding from a new investor, Johan Fust. He started with less ambitious projects than the Bible, like Latin grammar books and papal indulgences. These demonstrated his technology's potential to the church and provided a revenue stream. The video highlights how indulgences, previously handwritten, became mass-produced, showcasing the church's early adoption of printing. The production of paper, which was still a relatively new commodity in the West, is also explored at a mill in Basel, Switzerland. The process of making paper from linen rags, rather than wood pulp, is demonstrated, emphasizing its value and the effort involved in producing a suitable medium for printing.

After months of preparation, the moment of truth arrives to print a page of Gutenberg text. While the team made a single 'E' by hand, for expediency, a replica page of type, precisely matching Gutenberg's original, is used. The printing process is demonstrated, with the inked type pressed onto the paper, yielding a clear impression. The success of the experiment, and the joy of the craftspeople, is evident. Gutenberg's first Bible edition consisted of 180 copies, each with over 1,200 pages, requiring immense effort in typesetting, inking, and pressing. After printing, each page was hand-decorated by illuminators before binding, highlighting the blend of new technology and traditional artistry.

The host visits a library in Germany to see one of the few surviving Gutenberg Bibles. He expresses awe and reverence for the object, emphasizing its historical significance as a symbol of the modern age. The Bible's intricate Latin text and illumination are observed, but the typeface itself is noted for its perfection and beauty, even at the very beginning of the new technology. The use of abbreviations to achieve justified lines, a practice borrowed from scribes, is also discussed. The host handles the ancient book, noting its surprising robustness and intended utility despite its rarity. He marvels at the revolutionary concept of mass production, allowing identical copies to be distributed, enabling a shared reading experience across Europe.

Gutenberg's story did not end happily; his investor, Johan Fust, demanded repayment of his loan, forcing Gutenberg to forfeit all his printing equipment. He eventually restarted a new workshop with family support but never achieved the riches of his former partner. While Gutenberg eventually received recognition as a knight with a pension, his lasting legacy is the rapid spread of his printing technology across Europe. Within 15 years of his death, millions of books were in circulation, driving the Renaissance and enabling new ideas to quickly reach wide audiences. His method of printing endured for 500 years, making books accessible and shaping civilization. The host concludes by stating that it's impossible to imagine the modern world without the printed word.