<P> The invention of mechanical movable type printing led to a huge increase of printing activities across Europe within only a few decades . From a single print shop in Mainz , Germany , printing had spread to no less than around 270 cities in Central , Western and Eastern Europe by the end of the 15th century . As early as 1480 , there were printers active in 110 different places in Germany , Italy , France , Spain , the Netherlands , Belgium , Switzerland , England , Bohemia and Poland . From that time on , it is assumed that `` the printed book was in universal use in Europe '' . </P>
<P> The invention of mechanical movable type printing led to a huge increase of printing activities across Europe within only a few decades . From a single print shop in Mainz , Germany , printing had spread to no less than around 270 cities in Central , Western and Eastern Europe by the end of the 15th century . As early as 1480 , there were printers active in 110 different places in Germany , Italy , France , Spain , the Netherlands , Belgium , Switzerland , England , Bohemia and Poland . From that time on , it is assumed that `` the printed book was in universal use in Europe '' . </P>
where did the first mass printing of books occur
where did the first mass printing of books occur
Mainz , Germany
Mainz , Germany