Which came first? · Counterintuitive

Which came first: Gutenberg's printing press or Switzerland?

Switzerland came first, in 1291 (traditional founding). Gutenberg's printing press followed about 150 years later, in c. 1439 (invented).

  1. Secondc. 1439

    Gutenberg's printing press

    invention · invented

    The first known mention of Gutenberg's printing work is a 1439 lawsuit describing his types and type molds.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

  2. First1291

    Switzerland

    country · traditional founding

    Switzerland traces its founding to 1291, when three Alpine valleys swore to defend each other.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games

Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.