Who Invented the Printing Press
The printing press, which is an indispensable invention of our age, actually dates back to the 8th century. The first print using the printing press, whose origins are known to be in Japan, was Buddhist sacred texts printed by Empress Shotoku of Japan, using Chinese characters. Again, Pi Sheng of Japan took an important step in the printing industry by starting to print using porcelain letters he developed from 960 to 1297, and this method was further developed by Western printers, laying the foundation for today's modern printing press. Johann Gutenberg, credited as the inventor of the printing press, developed metal letters that ensured high printing quality. In fact, thanks to this method, Gutenberg is considered the father of the idea of today's modern printing press. In Europe, the printing press began to develop rapidly with the 15th century, with the Netherlands playing a very important role in this development. Gutenberg, together with his apprentice Fust in the city of Mainz, made significant developments and achieved great success in 1455 by printing a special Bible with 42 lines. However, due to subsequent financial problems, Gutenberg and Fust parted ways, and later soldiers under the Archbishop of Nassau attacked the city of Mainz in 1462, causing printers to disperse and spread to different parts of the world.
Development of the Printing Press in Turkey
Unfortunately, as a result of the decline in the late Ottoman period and the palace adopting a lifestyle detached from the public, the arrival of the printing press in Turkey, like all other important developments, was delayed. Moreover, this delay lasted for a full 200 years. The most important reason for this delay was the extremely low literacy rate among the public and thus the lack of demand for printed works. The widespread use of calligraphers in the Ottoman Empire also delayed the arrival of the printing press in the Ottoman lands. The historical data suggesting that religious leaders prevented the printing press, as is claimed today, unfortunately, does not go beyond rumors and their accuracy is debatable.
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