In 1455, Johannes Gutenberg printed the Gutenberg Bible in Mainz, marking the first major book produced with movable metal type in Europe. This innovation initiated the print revolution, drastically changing the dissemination of knowledge and literacy rates across Europe. The Gutenberg Bible not only made religious texts more accessible but also laid the foundation for the modern publishing industry, transforming communication and education.

The printing of the Gutenberg Bible democratized access to texts, enabling wider circulation of poetry. This fostered the standardization of vernacular languages, essential for the development of national poetic canons, influencing poets like Martin Luther and later, the English Renaissance poets.