Final answer:
The printing press allowed the Bible to be read and interpreted directly by laypeople in their vernacular language, undermining the Catholic Church's monopoly on spiritual authority and leading to the Protestant Reformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The introduction of the printing press in the middle of the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg created a major shift in the distribution and accessibility of written material. Before its invention, the Bible was largely available only in Latin and could only be interpreted by the clergy. With the printing press, and particularly the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages, laypeople gained direct access to the scriptures. This development posed a significant threat to the Catholic Church’s power because it reduced the Church’s control over religious knowledge and spiritual guidance.
By enabling people to interpret the Bible for themselves, the Church’s role as the sole interpreter of divine will was challenged. The reformers, like Martin Luther, capitalized on this change by promoting the concept of Scripture Alone and questioning the established Church doctrines. As a result, this increased literacy and facilitated the spread of humanist and sceptical ideas, which in turn laid the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation and the consequent religious and sociopolitical upheavals across Europe.