The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century significantly facilitated the spread of Renaissance ideas across Europe. This technology enabled the mass production of books, making literature, scientific works, and humanist writings accessible to a broader audience than ever before. The printing press revolutionized the way knowledge was disseminated and consumed, allowing for rapid sharing of new concepts in art, literature, and philosophy. It played a crucial role in promoting literacy and education while fostering an environment of intellectual exchange that characterized the Renaissance, ultimately contributing to the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution.