Johannes Guttenburg 1398-Febuary 3, 1468 Johannes Guttenburg died at the age of 70. Born in Germany to an upper-class family, he was the youngest son of Friele Gensfleisch zur Laden and Else Wyrich. According to historians, most of Guttenburg?s early life is a mystery. Guttenburg introduced the printing press to Europe around 1439. He invented the printing press which is recognized as starting the Printing Revolution. The Printing Revolution played an important role in developing the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution.