What major development in Europe allowed for increased literacy in the 15th century? 🔊
The major development in Europe that allowed for increased literacy in the 15th century was the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440. This revolutionary technology enabled the mass production of books, significantly lowering their cost and making literature more accessible to the general populace. Prior to this, books were laboriously hand-copied and expensive, limiting literacy to the elite. The increased availability of printed materials, such as pamphlets and educational texts, fueled the spread of ideas during the Renaissance and Reformation, allowing a broader segment of society to engage with literature, science, and political thought, ultimately fostering a more informed public.
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