Final answer:
Johannes Gutenberg was the European inventor who introduced the movable type printing press during the Renaissance, catalyzing the spread of knowledge and contributing to the birth of humanism and skepticism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The European inventor who brought the printing press to the Renaissance was Johannes Gutenberg. He introduced the movable type printing press to Europe. Gutenberg's invention dramatically altered the landscape of printing, enabling the mass production of books and the dissemination of knowledge.
Gutenberg's printing press played a crucial role in the Renaissance. It facilitated the spread of classical knowledge, philosophical ideas, and religious reform. The press's ability to produce identical copies of texts like the 180 Bibles printed by Gutenberg in 1455 led to a significant increase in book production, a decline in illiteracy, and contributed to the flourishing of humanism. The technology originated from China and Korea, yet Gutenberg's adaptation for European languages was uniquely groundbreaking. With this invention, he set off a printing revolution that made information accessible to a wider audience than ever before, aiding in the spread of Renaissance humanism and skepticism towards established religious and political authorities.