Historian Dr. Wójcik argues that the spread of literacy in early modern Poland was driven primarily by religious institutions promoting vernacular Bible reading, not by state initiatives.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support Dr. Wójcik's argument?
- A
Several Polish kings issued decrees urging higher levels of education.
- B
Some Polish printers operated in cities along major trade routes.
- Ccheck_circle
Parish records show that towns with active religious schools had literacy rates two to three times higher than nearby towns served only by royal officials.
- D
Latin was the language of scholarship in early modern Europe.
Explanation
A directly compares religious-school towns with royal-official towns, supporting religious institutions as the driver. B suggests state involvement; C and D are tangential.