The invention of the printing press around 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg had a transformative impact on society. It significantly increased the production of books and spread literacy beyond the elite, facilitating the rapid dissemination of knowledge and ideas. The printing press played a crucial role in the Reformation by enabling the mass production of Martin Luther's theses and other reformist literature, challenging the Catholic Church's authority. This democratization of information also contributed to the rise of public discourse, the scientific revolution, and the Enlightenment, ultimately laying the foundation for modern education, culture, and communication.