Which invention helped spread ideas during the Renaissance?

The invention that significantly aided in the spread of ideas during the Renaissance was the printing press. Developed by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, the printing press revolutionized the way information was disseminated. It allowed for the mass production of books and written materials, making literature, scientific texts, and religious works more accessible to a larger audience.

Before the invention of the printing press, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them expensive and scarce. With the printing press, texts could be produced quickly and at a lower cost, leading to a dramatic increase in literacy and education. This accessibility contributed to the spread of Renaissance humanism, scientific discoveries, and Reformation ideas, as individuals could engage with a variety of perspectives and knowledge.

In contrast, the other inventions mentioned, while significant in their own right, did not primarily facilitate the exchange of ideas during this particular period. The steam engine revolutionized transportation and industry in the later Industrial Revolution, the telescope advanced astronomy but did not directly influence the spread of Renaissance thought, and the compass improved navigation but was more relevant to maritime exploration than to the dissemination of ideas.