Final answer:
The Gutenberg Press is the most significant development for literary culture due to its impact on producing books at scale, fostering the spread of knowledge, and facilitating the Renaissance and humanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most significant development in publishing from the point of view of literary culture is A. The Gutenberg Press. Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the movable type printing press in 1436 marked a pivotal moment in history. Before Gutenberg, books in Europe were laboriously copied by hand, typically within monasteries, resulting in each book being unique. Gutenberg's innovation drastically lowered the cost of book production, leading to an increase in book availability and a subsequent fall in illiteracy rates. His press utilized individual metal letters that could be rearranged to print multiple copies of a page, paving the way for the mass production of printed materials.
This technological leap was instrumental in the spread of knowledge, the Renaissance, and the eventual rise of humanism. Moreover, the ability to widely disseminate texts fostered a more informed and critical society that could challenge established authorities and traditional beliefs. Within decades, the printing press had spread across Europe, and by 1480, almost every major city had adopted the technology, demonstrating its profound impact on literary culture.