Johann Gutenberg

Quite possibly the most influential inventor in world history. The release of Gutenberg's printed Bible would eventually go on to weaken the Catholic churches grip on politics, education, medicine, and science. Knowledge in the west was no longer the sole domain of the ecclesiastic elites, along with the high nobility. The explosion of new ideas only helped to add fuel to the burgeoning Renaissance, and it also contributed to the schism between Catholics and Protestants.

Good Actor..Loved him in that movie with the robot.

How can he be here? I don't know him at all!

Many other reviewers covered the importance of Gutenberg. I wonder if he ever thought " This invention will lead to crude gay hating and 1896- like opinions of blacks?

More than anyone else, he is responsible for Protestantism and the proliferation of literacy.

I think that Gutenberg deserves to be among those at the top. As an agnostic, my focus and reasoning is not on the argument that Luther utilized the printing press to disseminate his work, but that all those published ideas and discoveries that have contributed to the history of the world have been possible because of Gutenberg's diligence. Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Darwin, Einstein; movable type, typewriters, computers; pamphlets, books, magazines, newspapers, discussion boards, text messages. Certainly someone else 'could' have invented the movable type printing press, but Gutenberg was the right person, in the right place, at the right time and is credited with it. One could only speculate as to if/when someone else would/could have done so. Give credit where credit is due. I would contend that true greatness not only inspires change, but it also inspires others to think outside the box so to speak. Yes, there are still many illiterate people in the world, however there are ... Read more

Dear Christians, are you sure you would know very much about Jesus if you could not have easy access to a copy of the complete Bible nowadays? You owe this to Mr. Gutenberg and his successors who refined his method until everyone could afford his own copy. Can you deny that the influence of Jesus became a good deal greater when more people knew more about him?By the way: His real name was Johann Gensfleisch (the name means: "meat of geese" and sounds a bit ridiculous). As much as I know he was called Gutenberg according to the place where his family lived.

His creation allowed mass printing of more than just the bible but also revolutionary pamphlets, "Common Sense" anyone.

Moveable type was definitely a creative invention on this man's part. It definitely allowed knowledge to come to the masses as well as their own copies of the bible.

He improves and makes possible a means of spreading the written word, ultimately resulting (through various evolutions) in what you're looking at.

Why do the critics always point to the Bible and religion. Most of what was said about Jesus and Mohammad tends to be more fable than reality. Why don't you consider men who through their own wits and talent reached greatness. I am not so sure that the influence of Jesus and Mohammad is such a boon to humanity. The struggle between the true faith (both claim it) and the infidels continues even today. Pick someone a bit more human like Einstein, Michelangelo, Socrates, etc.

How can Johann Gutenberg be ahead of Jesus, Moses and Buddha? That doesn’t make any sense. He made a printing press that would have just been made by someone else if he hadn’t done it.

It's difficult to rate inventors fairly. Historically, it is usually the case that several people were working on the same invention and one person happened to figure it out/patent/steal it first. Someone else would have pioneered the printing press (the basic requirements were available by the 15th century). Still, Gutenberg deserves credit for being the first to do so. The influence of the printing press can scarecely be exaggerated: the volume of books worldwide is estimated to have expanded from 30,000 in 1450....to 9 million in 1500! Neither the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution or Industrial Civilization is imaginable without the influence of the printing press.

I cannot believe this got such a high rating. The invention of the printing press (simple as it was) could have been invented by someone else sooner or later if this man did not exist. Compared to Jesus Christ, Muhammed and Genghis Khan this man's influence was small.

The Chinese invented the printing press.

It is humorous that some have rated Gutenberg ahead of Jesus in influence. Gutenberg would himself be embarrassed at such a rating. It was his idea to mass produce the Bible so that the message of Jesus could get out to the world that motivated him to figure out a way to do this and the printing press was his answer. The printing press has been a huge deal, but Gutenberg was not more influential than Jesus. A few years back A&E; had a show the most influential people of the last 1000 years and Gutenberg was number one. He topped Sir Isaac Newton, Martin Luther, Charles Darwin and Williams Shakespeare, all of whom's writings and ideas would not have been near as widespreading and influential without the printing press.

Geutenburg allowed others to share their views and ideas. Many of the writers, scientists and political leaders may never have been able publish their works to the public. Almost all the influential people here owe Geutenburg for his invention.

Movable type was the greatest invention after the wheel. It was the means for wide spread distribution of information.

The printing press? Sure, how could he not be on the list? But he's not 5 stars because the printing press would have been invented eventually. . .it's not like the discovery of fire.

Several other reviewers adequately stated the case. The printing press made knowledge available to the masses.

Excuse me, but Gutenburg didn't invent the printing press. It was invented in China in the 7th century AD. Gutenburg may have improved it, but the Chinese invented it first.

Notice that nobody who rated this less than a four felt the need to comment. In my opinion, he should be just below Christ.

The printing press? Are you kidding me? Of course he's influential.

I would love to give Johann a 5 because, in my world, the printing press has been MOST influential. The printing of the bible started a spiritual and cultural revolution, the American press represents a fourth check and balance to our government, books educate, inspire, and provide escape from a stressful world. But so many people don't read! Even today in the US! The printing press is only influential to the extent that people actually READ what is printed and are able to filter out the nonsense from the wisdom. Just like on Rate-it-all!

No doubt, changed world history for the better.

The founding father of the information age. He made all thought, culture, and history available to the masses. I don't think that his impact can be overstated.