The Dutch Golden Age Practice Test

In the Dutch Golden Age, observers noted relatively high urban literacy, a thriving print culture, and a climate of debate in universities and salons, even as authorities sometimes censored material deemed politically dangerous. Spinoza’s works and other heterodox writings circulated in the Republic more easily than in many neighboring states. Which factor most helps explain this comparatively open intellectual environment?

In the Dutch Republic, wealthy regent families dominated city governments, oversaw poor relief, and influenced policies that favored trade and stability. While the Republic lacked a titled nobility comparable to France, social hierarchy still existed through wealth, officeholding, and patronage. Which statement best describes Dutch social and political structure during the Golden Age?