Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer is the new ideas in astronomy and anatomy that led intellectuals to challenge the authority of ancient and classical sources of knowledge. This option highlights a key transformation during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, often referred to as the Scientific Revolution. Intellectuals began to question and test the beliefs that had long been held based on ancient authorities, such as Aristotle and Galen. This shift was characterized by empirical observation, experimentation, and the scientific method, which played critical roles in changing how knowledge was acquired and understood.

The challenges posed to long-standing beliefs served to undermine the authority of traditional knowledge sources and fostered an environment of inquiry and skepticism. Thinkers like Copernicus, Galileo, and Harvey exemplified this movement as they presented ideas that contradicted established norms and paved the way for modern science. This intellectual upheaval significantly altered the landscape of knowledge and paved the way for future advancements.

In contrast, heightened interest in ancient texts, while notable, doesn't alone signify a substantial change in intellectual outlook; it was rather a revival that occurred earlier, during the Renaissance. The establishment of exclusive societies for scholars represents a trend in organizing intellectual discourse but does not capture the fundamental shift in understanding that occurred during this period. Restrictive policies on public