johann
...utenberg" in Mainz. The large argicultural estate was spacious, with room enough for several families, and certainly with space for a printing shop.In 1411 during a dispute with the guilds, one hundred and seventeen patricians left Mainz abruptly in order to underline their claim to certain tax and customs privileges. Gutenberg's father was one of the protesting patricians. He left, taking his children along. The family most probably moved to Eltville where the mother had inherited a house. In 1413, hunger riots again forced the family to leave Mainz. This forced flight from Mainz was a leitmotif which was to repeat itself often during Gutenberg's life. Although nothing concrete is known about Gutenberg's education, as the son of a patrician, he in all probability must have at least attended a Latin school. Excellent proficiency in Latin was imperative to inventing such an epoch-making device, respectively, to being able to tackle such an ambitious undertaking as printing the Latin Vulgate Bible. After completing the Latin school, many sons of patricians went on to study at the university in Erfurt. This could also hold true for Gutenberg: in 1418/1419 a certain Johannes de Alta villa (Eltville) was immatriculated at the University of Erfurt. In 1428 Gutenberg left Mainz once again. This time the city was on the verge of bankruptcy and the guilds took over. It is certain that from 16 January 1430 on, Gute...