The Machine that Made Us (1 of 34)

The Machine that Made Us

In this revealing documentary, Stephen Fry investigates the story of one of the most important machines ever invented - the Gutenberg Press.

The printing press was the world's first mass-production machine. Its invention in the 1450s changed the world as dramatically as splitting the atom or sending men into space, sparking a cultural revolution that shaped the modern age. It is the machine that made us who we are today.

Stephen's investigation combines historical detective work and a hands-on challenge. He travels to France and Germany on the trail of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press and early media entrepreneur. Along the way he discovers the lengths Gutenberg went to keep his project secret, explores the role of avaricious investors and unscrupulous competitors, and discovers why printing mattered so much in medieval Europe.

I've always been rather fond of books.
In fact, I think they're just about the most important things we've ever created - the building blocks of our civilisation.
So when someone suggested a journey in search of the genius who invented the printing press, I jumped at the chance.
My Lord, is this it?
This is it.
This was the man who launched the first media revolution and opened the door to the modern age.
But his story is shrouded in mystery, so to get closer to him we also decided to stage an experiment and build our own medieval printing press.
It 's so beautiful.
That meant getting to grips with the tools and technology of the 15th century.
Don't do that, Stephen!
And actually making some of the ingredients with my own bare hands.