What invention by Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the spread of knowledge?

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg is the key innovation that revolutionized the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance. Prior to its development, the process of copying texts by hand was labor-intensive and time-consuming, which made books scarce and expensive. The printing press allowed for the mass production of written material, significantly lowering costs and increasing accessibility.

With this invention, books could be produced in large quantities, facilitating the distribution of literature, scientific works, and religious texts. As a result, ideas and information could spread more rapidly across Europe, contributing to increased literacy rates and encouraging the exchange of ideas that fueled movements such as the Reformation and the Enlightenment. The printing press also played a crucial role in standardizing languages and texts, further enhancing communication and knowledge dissemination.

The other options, while significant in their own right, do not pertain to the revolutionary impact of the printing press on the spread of knowledge. The typewriter came later in the 19th century, the photocopier emerged in the 20th century, and the telegraph was related to communication but did not involve the dissemination of textual knowledge in the same way the printing press did.