The first Latin Institutes of the Christian Religion is printed at Basel in 1536
In 1536 the first Latin Institutio Christianae Religionis was printed at Basel. In the causal graph this event strengthens Digital Learning Access, a driver that weakens Learning Poverty Rate (low- and middle-income countries) — an improving welfare path.
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In 1536 the first Latin Institutio Christianae Religionis was printed at Basel.
Context
The Meeter Center and CCEL independently make the Institutes a public file. 1536 is also the year of Farel’s invitation, stored next.
John Calvin’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.
Conventional years are 1509–1564. Surviving public files are later museum pages, consistory editions, Meeter Center collections, and encyclopedias. Calvin did not typeset those later pages.
Why it matters
Education-access path. High confidence on the 1536 print.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
John Calvin
PersonDirect responsibility
responsibility level 0.4 · verified
He wrote the 1536 handbook. Basel printers issued it.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactThe first Latin Institutes of the Christian Religion is printed at Basel in 1536
- strengthensDriverDigital Learning Access
- weakensIndicators (3)Learning Poverty Rate (low- and middle-income countries)
impact weight 0.6 · Effect from 1 March 1536 · verified
A dated theological handbook increased copyable access to a Reformation teaching, without being a later academy.
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.24 (weight 0.6 × strength 0.4)
Observed
70% of 10-year-olds · 70 above the normal line (2022)
Worse than normalTwo readings: 57% of 10-year-olds (2019) and 70% of 10-year-olds (2022).
20192022 Above normal = worse
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.21 (weight 0.6 × strength 0.35)
Observed
472 PISA score points · 28 below the normal line (2022)
Worse than normal7 readings, 2003–2022: fell from 499 PISA score points to 472 PISA score points.
Above normal = better
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.18 (weight 0.6 × strength 0.3)
Observed
11% of primary-school-age children · 11 above the normal line (2023)
Worse than normalAbove normal = worse
Evidence
The sources behind this fact and its verification state.
- 1.Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion — CCELChristian Classics Ethereal Library · High credibility · verified
- 2.H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin StudiesCalvin University / Calvin Theological Seminary · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish
The Meeter Center’s Calvin collection pages and CCEL’s Institutes independently document the 1536 handbook.
Established: the 1536 Institutes was printed at Basel. Not established: a unique later literacy series from this title.
John Calvin did not file a later UNESCO form, a later Loeb colophon, or a later museum label as a personal act. A handbook is not a consistory. Keep 1541 ordinances on their own date. A handbook is not a consistory. Keep 1541 ordinances on their own date.
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorJohn Calvin
- contributed toFactThe first Latin Institutes of the Christian Religion is printed at Basel in 1536
- strengthensDriverDigital Learning Access
- weakensIndicatorLearning Poverty Rate (low- and middle-income countries)
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). The first Latin Institutes of the Christian Religion is printed at Basel in 1536. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/jc-institutes-1536
https://factrail.ai/facts/jc-institutes-1536
Accessed 16 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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