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Johannes Gutenberg, born around 1400 in Mainz, Germany, The exact birth date of Johannes gutenberg is unknown, but scholars estimate he was born around the turn of the 14th century, between the years 1394-1406.
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Records suggest that a "Johannes de Altavilla" enrolled at the University of Erfurt in 1418. Historians widely believe this student was Johannes Gutenberg, for the following reasons, They believe this because The name: "Altavilla" is the Latin name for Eltville am Rhein, the town where Gutenberg's family had an estate. During periods of civil unrest in Mainz, his family had relocated to Eltville. -
In Germany, around 1440, the goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press, which started the Printing Revolution. A 1439 lawsuit, filed by the relatives of a deceased business partner, shows that Gutenberg was already engaged in a printing project that was kept highly secret. By 1440, he had established the basic principles of his invention, including using a movable, reusable metal type.
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The printing of indulgences, starting with Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450s, was a significant development that enabled mass production of these forgiveness documents, making them a common sight before the Reformation and highlighting a profitable aspect of the Church's practice. Gutenberg printed his "31-Line Indulgence" in 1454, creating a template for future printed indulgences with spaces for personalized names and dates, a system that greatly increased their use and availability.
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After losing his printing workshop in a lawsuit to his business partner Johann Fust in 1455, Johannes Gutenberg re established his business with the help of a wealthy lawyer and canonist named Conrad Humery. Humery provided Gutenberg with the necessary resources to continue his printing work in Mainz, Germany. -
The specific cause of Johannes Gutenberg's death on February 3, 1468, is unknown, but he died penniless in Mainz, Germany. While the exact disease or ailment is not recorded, sources indicate his death occurred at around age 70 or less and was preceded by financial ruin and the confiscation of his printing presses by creditors.