Analyze how increased access to literature affected people’s lives during the Renaissance.(1 point)ResponsesIncreased access to literature did not expose people to information because it was written in languages they couldn’t understand.Increased access to literature did not expose people to information because it was written in languages they couldn’t understand.Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were only able to evaluate this information with religious guidance.Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were only able to evaluate this information with religious guidance.People did not have increased access to literature during the Renaissance.People did not have increased access to literature during the Renaissance.Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were able to evaluate this information on their own, without religious guidance.

Question

Analyze how increased access to literature affected people’s lives during the Renaissance.(1 point)ResponsesIncreased access to literature did not expose people to information because it was written in languages they couldn’t understand.Increased access to literature did not expose people to information because it was written in languages they couldn’t understand.Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were only able to evaluate this information with religious guidance.Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were only able to evaluate this information with religious guidance.People did not have increased access to literature during the Renaissance.People did not have increased access to literature during the Renaissance.Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were able to evaluate this information on their own, without religious guidance.

Answer 1

Increased access to literature exposed people to information. They were able to evaluate this information on their own, without religious guidance.

During the Renaissance, which took place roughly from the 14th to the 17th century, there was a significant increase in the availability and access to literature due to several factors, including the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440. This innovation made books more affordable and widespread, leading to a dramatic expansion of literacy and learning among a broader segment of the population.

As more people gained access to a variety of texts—including classical Greek and Roman works, contemporary scientific treatises, and humanist literature—they began to question traditional authorities and the teachings of the Church. The humanist movement emphasized the potential and dignity of the individual and often encouraged a direct examination of the source texts of religion, science, and philosophy, without the need for religious or institutional mediation.

This newfound access to diverse ideas and viewpoints ignited a spirit of intellectual exploration and individualism that is characteristic of the Renaissance. It helped lay the groundwork for the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, where evidence and reason started to take precedence over doctrine and tradition in seeking knowledge and understanding the world.