Final answer:
The printing press, introduced by Johannes Gutenberg, dramatically increased book production and reduced illiteracy rates, empowering the spread of Renaissance and Enlightenment ideas by making knowledge more accessible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question of which of the following was an effect of the printing press is that it led to increased book production and a decline in illiteracy rates. The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, revolutionized the way information was shared and books were produced. Gutenberg's first complete book, the Gutenberg Bible, was printed around 1455, and this invention marked the beginning of the printing revolution. Within two years, book production had increased significantly, and as a result, literacy rates began to fall, making literature and knowledge more accessible to a wider population.
Moreover, the printing press contributed to the spread of the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment by making the classical texts and new ideas more readily available to the public. It allowed for the mass production of books in local languages, which promoted the standardization of dialects and helped advance nation-states. Despite obstacles such as low literacy rates among the lower socioeconomic classes, the printing press still had a profound impact on European society, culture, and intellectual life.