Question

A major change to biographies that began in the 16th century was that they _____. a.began to portray their subjects as more human
b.focused more deeply on the childhoods of subjects
c.were published to be read by common people
d.shifted from a focus on politicians to a focus on military figures

Answer 1

In my opinion, the correct answer is c. were published to be read by common people. The invention of the printing press a century earlier was the driving force of literacy, which was becoming more widespread than ever. Books were cheaper and affordable to members of the growing middle class. Also, the middle-class people started dictating the literary taste, so there was no need for employing sublime styles and topics that would appeal to the educated aristocracy. In the 16th century, Giorgio Vasari wrote his "Lives of the Artists" - an easily read and extremely interesting account on lives of secular people - the major artists of the age. This book quickly became a bestseller, which means it was read by common people.