Question

radama i... organized a cabinet and encouraged the protestant london missionary society to establish schools and churches and to introduce the printing press... the society made nearly half a million converts, and its teachers devised a written form of the local language, malagasy, using the latin alphabet. by 1828 several thousand persons, primarily merina, had become literate, and a few young persons were being sent to britain for schooling. later the merina dialect of malagasy became the official language. malagasy-language publications were established and circulated among the merina-educated elite; by 1896 some 164,000 children... attended the missions primary schools. based on the text, how did the introduction of the printing press affect the development of madagascar in the nineteenth century? a. it stimulated the forces of nationalism and patriotism. b. it sped the processes of modernization and westernization. c. it promoted social equality among the nations diverse ethnic groups. d. it reinforced the commitment to honoring the nations cultural traditions. \madagascar\ by peter j. schraeder from indian ocean: five island countries, 1995 library of congress, federal research division

Explanation:

The text mentions that the printing press was used to create a written form of the local language (Malagasy using the Latin alphabet), establish and circulate publications, and educate people (e.g., sending persons for schooling, having children attend mission - run primary schools). These actions are likely to foster a sense of national identity and pride (nationalism and patriotism). There is no indication in the text about promoting social equality among diverse ethnic groups (C), reinforcing cultural traditions (D) in a way that is the main effect of the printing press introduction, or speeding modernization and westernization (B) as the primary impact compared to the stimulation of nationalism and patriotism.

Answer:

A. It stimulated the forces of nationalism and patriotism.