Who was the first person to introduce movable type printing in Europe?

Johann Gutenberg is recognized as the first person to introduce movable type printing in Europe, which marked a pivotal moment in the history of communication and the spread of knowledge. Around the 1440s, Gutenberg developed a printing press and created movable type, which allowed for the efficient reproduction of text. This innovation significantly reduced the cost and time required to produce books, making literature more accessible to the general populace.

Gutenberg's printing press played a crucial role in the dissemination of ideas during the Renaissance and the Reformation, facilitating the spread of humanist literature and religious texts such as the Gutenberg Bible. His work laid the foundation for the printing industry as we know it today, transforming the way information was shared and consumed throughout Europe and eventually the world.

In contrast, figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, and Johannes Kepler were influential in their respective fields—art and science—but did not contribute to the development of movable type printing. Their work and innovations came after Gutenberg's invention had already begun to change society.