Final answer:
The answer is true. Gutenberg's printing press played a crucial role in spreading the Protestant Reformation by allowing for mass production and distribution of reformist texts and making the Bible accessible in vernacular languages.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. Johannes Gutenberg's perfection of the printing press significantly aided the spread of the Protestant Reformation. This technological innovation made it possible for the mass production of texts, including religious works such as the Bible, which was translated into vernacular languages. This accessibility to scripture and other reformist literature, such as Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, facilitated the dissemination of reformist ideas, challenging the Catholic Church's teachings and authority.
The printing press not only allowed for the distribution of religious materials that promoted Protestant views but also encouraged literacy and the spread of humanist and skeptical thought amidst the Renaissance. The ability to print books, pamphlets, and imagery at a much more rapid and cost-efficient pace than hand-copying meant that ideas critical of the church could reach a wider audience faster than ever before.
This mass printing and distribution phenomenon wasn’t just limited to religious texts. Gutenberg's printing press also made available a variety of works, including those of the Renaissance, and helped instill a spirit of enquiry and critical thinking among the populace of Europe. By the late 15th century, almost every large city in Europe had adopted the technology, which intensified the reformation's reach and ultimately contributed to the reshaping of European socio-political and religious landscapes.