History

Print Culture and the Modern World

Question:

Analyse the impact of print revolution on religion. [CJBS £ 2012]

Answer:

(i) Fear of spread of irreligious thoughts: Not everyone welcomed the printed book, and those who did also had fears about it. Many were apprehensive of the effects that the easier access to the printed word and the wider circulation of books, could have on people's minds. It was feared that if there was no control over what was printed and read then rebellious and irreligious thoughts might spread.
(ii) Division of Church: In 1517, the religious reformer Martin Luther wrote Ninety Five Theses criticising many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. This lead to a division within the Church and to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
(iii) Index of prohibited books: The Roman Church, troubled by such effects of popular readings and questionings of faith, imposed severe controls • over publishers and booksellers and began to maintain an Index of Prohibited Books from 1558.
{iv) Print and Muslims: To check conversion or fear of change of laws Muslims used cheap lithographic presses-, published Persian and Urdu translations of holy scriptures, and printed religious newspapers and tracts. The Deoband Seminary, founded in 1867, published many fatwas telling Muslim readers how to conduct themselves in their everyday lives, and explaining the meanings of Islamic doctrines.
(v) Print and Hindus: Among Hindus, too, print encouraged the reading of religious texts, especially in the vernacular languages. The first printed edition of the RamcharitmantMS of Tulsidas, a sixteenth- century text, came out from Calcutta in 1810. Religious texts, therefore, reached a very wide circle of people, encouraging discussions, debates and controversies within and among different religions.

previuos
next

Print Culture and the Modern World

Q 1.

Name the first Weekly that appeared in India. Who bought it out ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 2.

What were Biliotheque Blue ?

Q 3.

Explain the main features of the first printed Bible. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Or
Describe any three main features of the first printed Bible. [CBSE 2014]

Q 4.

Which material was used to print pictures in Japan?

Q 5.

Name an Act which was passed by the British government to keep a regular track of the vernacular newspapers.

Q 6.

What is manuscript ?

Q 7.

What were Chap books ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 8.

Who invented power driven cylindrical press ? What were its advantages ?

Q 9.

Name any four Indian women writers of the 19th century.

Q 10.

What is calligraphy ?

Q 11.

Who printed the first Tamil book ?

Q 12.

’Liberty of speech … liberty of the press … freedom of association. The government of India is now seeking to crush the three powerful vehicles of expressing and cultivating public opinion, the fight for swaraj, for Khilafat … means a fight for this threatened freedom before all else….’
Who said these words ?

Q 13.

How was sale of books promoted in small towns?

Q 14.

Name two scholars whose writings inspired French people.

Q 15.

Who was the author of Amar Jiban ?

Q 16.

Write about the different innovations in the printing technology during the 19th century ? [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Q 17.

Study the given paragraph and answer the following questions that follow :
Liberty of speech…. liberty of the press freedom of association. The government of India is now seeking to crush the three powerful vehicles of expressing and cultivating public opinion. The fight for Swaraj, for Khilafat …. means a fight for this threatened freedom before all else ….'
(i) Who said these words ?

(ii) Name the freedoms he is talking about.

Q 18.

Describe the issue of caste as taken by the novelists in India. [CBSE 2013]

Q 19.

Why did some people in the eighteenth century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism ? [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]
Or
Assess the impact of print revolution on the European society. [CBSE 2013]

Q 20.

When was print technology introduced in Japan?

Q 21.

Write a brief note on Martin Luther.

Q 22.

What is calligraphy?

Q 23.

What medium was used for writing ancient Indian scriptures?

Q 24.

Who was the major producer of printed material in China ? For what purpose this material was used ?

Q 25.

Who wrote Istri Dharam Vichar ?

Q 26.

What was Vernacular Press Act ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 27.

What was an accordion book"? Describe any two features of hand printing in China ?

Q 28.

What were the effects of the spread of print culture for poor people in nineteenth century India?

Q 29.

Who was Marco Polo ?

Q 30.

Who were scribes ?

Q 31.

What was the role of cartoons and caricatures in the French Revolution ?

Q 32.

What was the basic objective of Ninety Five Theses ?

Q 33.

The printing press is the most powerful engine of progress and public opinion is the force that will sweep despotism away". Who said these words ?

Q 34.

Name any two women novelist of the 19th century.

Q 35.

In north India, the ulama were deeply anxious about the collapse of Muslim dynasties. They feared that colonial rulers would encourage conversion, change the Muslim personal laws. Mention any two steps taken by them to counter this.

Q 36.

Who wrote Gulamgiri ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 37.

Give reasons for the following :
(a) Martin Luther was in favour of print, and spoke out in praise of it.
(b) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an Index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth century.
(c) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for the liberty of speech, liberty of the press and freedom of association.

Q 38.

How were earlier books printed (before 15th century) ? Explain.

Q 39.

How did China remain a major producer of printed materials for a long time ? [CBSE 2013]
Or
"The imperial state in China, was the major producer of printed material.” Support this statement with examples.  [CBSE 2013. 2012. 2014]

Q 40.

How did Gutenberg personalise the printed hooks suiting to the tastes and requirement of others ? [CBSE 2012]

Q 41.

How did the print revolution influence the reading habit of the people of Europe?

Q 42.

Who brought out the first Indian newspaper published in English?

Q 43.

Name the first book published by Johann Guttenbcrg.

Q 44.

Who was Martin Luther ?

Q 45.

Who said "Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one ? ] [CBSE 2010. 11, 12]

Q 46.

When did the first printing press come to India?

Q 47.

Why did Governor General Warren Hastings persecute Hickey ?

Q 48.

Name the printing presses which published numerous religious texts in vernaculars from the 1880s.

Q 49.

Mention any four social values which print culture promoted.

Q 50.

Why were the printed books popular even among illiterate people ? [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2012]