What did Johannes Guttenberg’s invention influence?

Question

It allowed farmers to expand the size of existing fields and plow faster, resulting in a greater supply of food.
It produced a larger supply of wool cloth at less cost, allowing western Europeans to expand the sale of cloth and clothing in the East.
It made printed materials less expensive and thereby encouraged people to learn to read.
It strengthened western Europeans’ effort to defend its eastern border against Muslim armies.
It improved the safety of sailing on the Atlantic Ocean thereby allowing merchants to sail farther faster and explorers to sail westward.

Answer 1

Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press had a significant influence primarily on the dissemination of knowledge and information. The most relevant statement from your list is:

It made printed materials less expensive and thereby encouraged people to learn to read.

The printing press allowed for the mass production of books and written material, which reduced costs and increased accessibility. This contributed to greater literacy rates and the spread of ideas, facilitating movements like the Renaissance and the Reformation. The availability of printed materials also helped in standardizing languages and sharing knowledge across different regions.