Which came first? · Tricky
Which came first: Gutenberg's printing press or the University of Bologna?
The University of Bologna came first, in 1088 (traditional founding). Gutenberg's printing press followed about 350 years later, in c. 1439 (invented).
- Secondc. 1439
Gutenberg's printing press
invention · inventedThe first known mention of Gutenberg's printing work is a 1439 lawsuit describing his types and type molds.
- First1088
The University of Bologna
university · traditional foundingThe University of Bologna traditionally dates its founding to 1088 and is often called the oldest university still running.
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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.