Gutenberg's printing press revolutionized the spread of knowledge in Europe. Before its invention, books were rare and expensive since they had to be copied by hand. Only the wealthy could afford books, and the Bible was the primary text available. Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1400s, which allowed texts to be mass produced using movable metal type. His first printed book was the Gutenberg Bible. The printing press had a profound influence, making knowledge widely accessible for the first time. It helped launch the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution by distributing information to the masses.