1. China:
- Papermaking: The Chinese developed the art of papermaking from plant fibers during the 2nd century BCE.
- Movable Type: Bi Sheng invented the world's first movable type system using clay characters around 1040 CE.
2. Korea:
- Metal Type: Koreans improved upon the Chinese movable type system by using metal (bronze) characters instead of clay, making the type more durable and reusable.
3. Europe:
- Screw Press: Europeans adapted the screw press, originally used for pressing grapes or extracting oil, for use in printing. This press provided the necessary pressure for transferring ink from type to paper.
- Oil-based Inks: European printers developed oil-based inks that adhered better to metal type compared to water-based inks used in earlier printing methods.
Johannes Gutenberg's Printing Press (c. 1440):
Johannes Gutenberg combined and refined technologies from different parts of the world to create the first printing press with movable type in Europe. Here's what he used from each area:
- Papermaking (China): Gutenberg utilized papermaking techniques from China to produce sheets of paper suitable for printing.
- Movable Metal Type (Korea): Inspired by the Korean metal type system, Gutenberg developed his own reusable metal type, making it possible to compose and print text efficiently.
- Screw Press (Europe): Gutenberg adapted the European screw press to apply even pressure during the printing process, ensuring consistent impressions on paper.
- Oil-based Inks (Europe): To achieve sharp and durable prints, Gutenberg employed oil-based inks that could adhere well to metal type.
Gutenberg's printing press revolutionized book production, leading to the widespread dissemination of knowledge, ideas, and literature throughout Europe and beyond.