Typography was invented independently in China and Europe. Woodblock printing, the first method of mechanical book reproduction, was developed in China in the Tang Dynasty and spread to other East Asian countries. In Europe, xylographic printing using carved wooden blocks began in the 13th century. Johannes Gutenberg developed the metal movable type printing press around 1450, vastly increasing production. Printing then spread across Europe in the late 15th century, allowing mass reproduction of books for the first time. Typography was introduced to Russia in the mid-16th century and further advanced with early Russian printer Ivan Fedorov. Modern printing techniques continue to develop and are now widely used.