Johannes Gutenberg is credited with the invention of the printing press around 1440. His innovative technology used movable type, which allowed for the mass production of printed materials, revolutionizing the dissemination of information. Gutenberg's most famous work, the Gutenberg Bible, was printed around 1455 and is celebrated for its craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty. The printing press facilitated the spread of literacy and ideas, significantly impacting the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the overall course of Western civilization by making books more accessible and fostering an environment conducive to intellectual exchange.