Mainz

Through his invention of printing, Johannes Gutenberg transformed the production of the Bible, drastically reducing the time needed to reproduce it. Despite his ingenuity, he was in financial difficulty and lost a lawsuit against the banker Johann Fust. His innovations nevertheless revolutionized publishing and had a lasting impact.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

In 1517, Martin Luther, a professor of theology in Wittenberg, wrote his 95 theses in response to the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences. Sent to the Archbishop of Mainz on 31 October and rapidly circulated through printing, they criticised ecclesiastical abuses and advocated inward spiritual repentance. Condemned by Pope Leo X in 1520, they sparked the Protestant Reformation and permanently transformed the history of Western Christianity.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate