Final answer:
Johannes Gutenberg invented the first movable-type printing press in Europe, which was a significant advancement that led to increased book production, the spread of knowledge, and the Renaissance. The correct option is C. Johannes Gutenberg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person credited with inventing the first movable-type printing press in Europe is Johannes Gutenberg. Born Johannes Gensfleisch Zur Laden zum Gutenberg (1398-1468), he developed the printing press around 1440 in Mainz, Germany. His breakthrough combined the technologies of metal type casting, ink formulation, and a screw press, greatly enhancing the potential for book production. Gutenberg's press made printed materials more accessible, fueling the spread of knowledge, the Protestant Reformation, and eventually, the European Renaissance.
Prior to Gutenberg's invention, texts in Europe were copied by hand, predominantly by monks in monasteries, making books rare and expensive. Gutenberg's system, however, standardized text production, allowing for books like his famed Gutenberg Bible (around 1455) to be produced in larger quantities. While movable type was previously invented in China by Bi Sheng during the Northern Song Dynasty, Gutenberg's adaptation to an alphabet-based script, and his improvements to metal type and printing press technology, made it significantly more efficient for use in Europe and initiated a transformative period in European history.
By 1480, almost every major European city had a printing press, following the model and methods established by Gutenberg. His invention is considered one of the most critical in shaping European history, culture, and progress.