How did Gutenberg's printing press help challenge power structures?

Correct answer: It spread ideas widely and brought Church and state control into question

Correct answer: A. Gutenberg’s movable-type printing press made it possible to produce many copies of written material more quickly and at a lower cost than hand-copying. Before this, books were scarce and were largely controlled by religious institutions, rulers, and educated elites. Printing allowed religious criticisms, scientific observations, political arguments, and translations to reach a much wider audience. As more people read and discussed these ideas, the authority of the Church and rulers could be questioned rather than accepted automatically. This helped movements such as the Protestant Reformation and encouraged wider education. Option A is correct because it describes the main political and social effect. B is wrong because printing increased the number of books. C is wrong because printing gradually widened access to reading rather than restricting it to kings. D is wrong because the partition of Africa was a later imperial process unrelated to the basic impact of the printing press. Memory cue: printing means more copies, more readers, and more questioning of authority.