Before the fifteenth century, books in Europe were copied by hand, which took months and made them very expensive. Around 1450, Johannes Gutenberg, a German craftsman, built a printing press that used movable metal letters. The letters could be arranged to make a page, covered with ink and pressed onto paper. Afterwards, they could be rearranged for the next page. Printing many copies became much faster and cheaper. As books became cheaper, more people learned to read, and new ideas spread quickly across countries. Many historians regard the invention as one of the most important in history. Printing with blocks and movable type had been used earlier in East Asia, but Gutenberg's press had a large effect on Europe and, later, on the rest of the world.
Question: The word 'craftsman' in the passage means
- a person skilled at making things by hand
- a king
- a farmer
- a teacher
Show answer
Correct answer: a person skilled at making things by hand
A craftsman makes things by hand with skill.
Test structure: ETEC information about STEP
Questions last reviewed: 21 October 2026