Gutenberg Bible Printed
Johannes Gutenberg printed the first major book using movable type, revolutionizing the spread of knowledge.
Around 1452–1455, Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz, Germany, produced the Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible), the first major book printed using movable metal type in Europe. This technological breakthrough made books far cheaper and faster to produce than hand-copying. The printing press catalyzed the spread of literacy, fueled the Renaissance and Reformation, and is widely regarded as one of the most important inventions in human history. Approximately 180 copies were printed, of which 49 are known to survive.
More in Art & Culture
Indus Valley Civilization Flourishes
The Indus Valley Civilization — one of the world's earliest urban societies — flourished across the northwestern subcontinent with advanced city planning, drainage systems, and trade networks.
2560 BCEConstruction of the Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, standing as the tallest man-made structure for over 3,800 years.
~600 BCESappho of Lesbos
Sappho, the great lyric poet of ancient Greece, composed passionate verse on the island of Lesbos — becoming the first major female voice in Western literature.
~320 CEThe Gupta Empire — India's Golden Age
The Gupta dynasty presided over a golden age of Indian civilization, producing breakthroughs in mathematics, astronomy, literature, and the arts that influenced the world for centuries.