Final answer:
The inventor of the metal movable type printing press in the 1450s, which played a pivotal role in the success of the Protestant Reformation by spreading literacy and ideas, was Johannes Gutenberg (Option C).
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of the metal movable type printing press was crucial for the spread of ideas during the Protestant Reformation, and the inventor of this transformative technology in the 1450s was C) Johannes Gutenberg. His press made it possible to produce books more efficiently and cheaply, encouraging literacy and allowing for the rapid dissemination of new ideas across Europe. Gutenberg's press was a significant advancement over the previous method of copying books by hand, which was a laborious and time-intensive process.
Thanks to Gutenberg's invention, access to printed material increased, which played a role in the spread of humanism and skepticism towards religious authorities during the Renaissance. The ability to mass-produce texts, including the Bible translated into vernacular languages, significantly impacted the religious landscape of Europe and challenged the hegemony of the Catholic Church.
Gutenberg's development of the printing press and his publication of the Bible were monumental events that marked the beginning of the printing revolution and contributed to the rise of literacy and the spread of new knowledge throughout Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries.