Final answer:
Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor who created the movable type printing press in the 15th century, revolutionizing book production and knowledge dissemination, which aided in the development of the Renaissance and Humanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Johannes Gutenberg was an influential German inventor, craftsman, and publisher who invented the movable type printing press in Europe in 1436. Gutenberg's innovation was the creation of metal text and a letter block mold, which enabled typesetters to uniformly set lines and pages of text, a significant enhancement compared to the previous method of monks hand-copying each book. This mechanized printing technology became a catalyst for the dissemination of knowledge, greatly increasing the speed and reducing the cost of book production, which contributed to a reduction in illiteracy and the proliferation of ideas across Europe.
The impact of Gutenberg's printing press was profound, leading to a printing revolution that is considered one of the most important events in European history. It facilitated the spread of classical texts and new ideas, helping to ignite the Renaissance and the rise of Humanism.
By the end of the 15th century, almost every large European city had at least one printing press, with Venice emerging as the printing capital. Gutenberg's methods were not only widely copied but also improved upon, leading to the development of a variety of fonts still in use today. His invention helped to lay the groundwork for the modern knowledge-based economy and is a cornerstone of the dissemination of ideas.