Historian Evelyn Vance argues that the introduction of the printing press in fifteenth-century Europe did not immediately lead to a decline in the production of handwritten manuscripts. According to Vance, wealthy patrons continued to value the unique prestige of hand-copied texts, preferring them over printed books during the transition period.
Which choice, if true, would most directly support Vance's argument?
- Records show that wealthy European nobles commissioned as many handwritten manuscripts in the decades after the printing press's invention as they did before.Answer
- BMany libraries in fifteenth-century Europe began to organize their collections by subject matter rather than by publication date.
- CPrinted books eventually became the primary method for distributing information across Europe in the sixteenth century.
- DWealthy patrons quickly purchased printed books because they were much cheaper to produce than handwritten manuscripts.
Answer
Records show that wealthy European nobles commissioned as many handwritten manuscripts in the decades after the printing press's invention as they did before.
The correct answer provides direct evidence that wealthy nobles (patrons) continued to commission handwritten manuscripts at the same rate after the printing press was invented. This supports the historian's claim that the production of these manuscripts did not decline immediately due to wealthy patrons' continued preference for hand-copied texts.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Command of Evidence: Textual