> Universities were being founded, and scholars in Western Europe began to pore over ancient texts as well as learned writings from the Muslim world. Some of these presented complex systems of magic that claimed to draw on astral forces or conjure powerful spirits. Gradually, these ideas began to gain intellectual clout.

So could we say in other words, all that happened as a side effect of Education? Greater exposure of ideological minefields to people highly susceptible?

Reminds me of all the conspiracy videos on the internet you know. And people who spend an insane amount of hours pouring over those.