What was a significant impact of the invention of the printing press during the Renaissance?

The invention of the printing press during the Renaissance had a profound impact on society, particularly in significantly increasing literacy rates. Prior to the printing press, books were laboriously copied by hand, which made them expensive and rare. This limited access to written knowledge to a small, often elite segment of the population.

With the advent of the printing press, books could be produced more quickly and at a lower cost, allowing for wider circulation. This accessibility meant that more people could afford to buy books, which in turn encouraged reading and education among the general populace. As a result, literacy rates climbed as texts became available in vernacular languages, influencing various aspects of society, including education, religion, and science.

The other choices reflect important themes but do not capture the core significance of the printing press as effectively. While the printing press did reduce manuscript errors to some extent due to mass production and standardized texts, the most transformative effect was the widespread dissemination of knowledge that fostered increased literacy. Similarly, the creation of new languages and the development of the internet are outcomes of much later historical developments and are not directly tied to the press's impact during the Renaissance.