THE RECORD
What changed
Gutenberg's Mainz workshop printed Bibles and indulgences in the 1450s through repeatable casting, composition and pressing.
EVIDENCE
What remains
Gutenberg Bibles, type impressions and court records document the workshop's technology and finance.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
It reduced copying time and cost, accelerating the circulation of religious debate, scholarship and administration.
OPEN QUESTION
Where interpretation begins
Printing had flourished in East Asia for centuries; Gutenberg's significance lies in a European metal-type production system.