Johannes Gutenberg

Summary
This lesson introduces students to Johannes Gutenberg.

Objectives
• To be able to briefly describe the life of Johannes Gutenberg.

• To be able to explain the methods of printing at the time.

• To be able to list some of the main results of Gutenberg?s printing press.

Suggested Grades
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade

Excerpt
Johannes Gutenberg was born around 1398, though the exact date is unknown and died in 1468. He was born in the city of Mainz in Germany and when he became of age, he started learning the trade of goldsmith. Though not much is known about his earlier life, it is known that he and his family moved to Strasbourg. In 1438, he started beginning some experiments in printing. Around 1450, Gutenberg returned to Mainz where he asked to borrow money from Johann Fust, who was a merchant and money lender.

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