History

Print Culture and the Modern World

Question:

Not everyone welcomed the printed books, and those who did also had fears about it.' Explain by giving examples.

Answer:

(i) Fear of negative thoughts : Many were of the opinion that printed words and the wider circulation of books, would have a negative impact on people's minds.
(ii) Rebellious and irreligious thoughts : They feared that if there was no control over what was printed and read, then rebellious and irreligious thoughts might gain importance.
(iii) Destruction of valuable literature :
There was also a fear in the minds of scholars that the authority of ‘valuable' literature would be destroyed.
(iv) Criticism of Roman Catholic Church : Martin Luther was a German monk, priest, professor and a Church reformer. In 1517, he wrote Ninety Five Theses and openly criticized many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. This led to a division within the Church, and led to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation,
(v) Compilation of ancient and medieval scientific text : The ideas of scientists and philosophers now became more accessible to the common people. Ancient and Medieval scientific texts were compiled and published, and maps and scientific diagrams were widely printed. When scientists like Issac Newton began to public their discoveries, they could influence a much wider circle of scientifically minded readers. The writings of thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau were also widely printed and read. Thus their ideas about science, reason and rationality found their way into popular literature.

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Print Culture and the Modern World

Q 1.

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

Q 2.

What was the theme of the book Gulamgiri ?

Q 3.

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

Q 4.

Name any four languages in which Indian manuscript was prepared before the age of print.

Q 5.

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

Q 6.

Explain the steps which were taken by the British government or the colonial government to control the freedom of press.

Q 7.

Which is the oldest book to be printed in Japan ?

Q 8.

Who started publishing Sambad Kaumudi from 1821?

Q 9.

Why did the demand for hand written books diminish?

Q 10.

Who was Marco Polo ?

Q 11.

What were ballads ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 12.

Who was Martin Luther ?

Q 13.

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 14.

Give a brief description of the first form of print technology.

Q 15.

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 16.

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

Q 17.

What medium was used for writing ancient Indian scriptures?

Q 18.

What were the features of the new books which were produced in Europe after the invention of the Gutenberg's press ?  [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Q 19.

What was the basic objective of Ninety Five Theses ?

Q 20.

Who was the author of Amar Jiban ?

Q 21.

Who wrote Gulamgiri ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 22.

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 23.

What did the spread of print culture in 19th century mean to the Reformers ?

Q 24.

The shift from handprinting to mechanical printing led to the print revolution.’ Explain.

Q 25.

Who was Marco Polo?

Q 26.

How did the oral culture enter print and how was the printed material transmitted orally ? Explain with suitable examples.  [CBSE 2008 (F), Sept. 2012]
Or
How did the printers manage to attract the people, largely illiterate, towards, printed books ? [CBSE Sept. 2012]

Q 27.

Why did people in the eighteenth century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?  [CBSE 2011]

Q 28.

How were ideas and information written before the age of print in India ? How did the printing technique begin in India ? Explain. [CBSE 2008, Sept. 2010]
Or
Explain the role of missionaries in the growth of press in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Q 29.

Which material was used to print pictures in Japan?

Q 30.

What was print revolution ?

Q 31.

Name two scholars whose writings inspired French people.

Q 32.

Who printed the first Tamil book ?

Q 33.

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

Q 34.

Why did the woodblock method become popular in Europe ? [CBSE 2015]
Or
What were the drawbacks of the handwritten manuscripts ?
Or
Mention the shortcomings of manuscripts. [CBSE Sept. 2011, 2012, 2014]

Q 35.

What is calligraphy?

Q 36.

Name the countries where the earliest kind of print technology was developed.

Q 37.

When and by whom was hand printing technology introduced in Japan ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 38.

Who developed the first printing press ?

Q 39.

What was Protestant Reformation ?

Q 40.

Why did Governor General Warren Hastings persecute Hickey ?

Q 41.

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

Q 42.

’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 43.

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 44.

Mention any four social values which print culture promoted.

Q 45.

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

Q 46.

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

Q 47.

State any three points of importance of penny chapbooks. [CBSE Sept. 2010.2011]
Or
Describe some of the new printed books which were sold by the pedlars in villages in the eighteenth century Europe.  [CBSE-2012, 2014]

Q 48.

How did the ideas of scientists and philosophers become more accessible to common people after the beginning of print revolution in Europe ? [CBSE Sept. 2010. 2012]

Q 49.

How did the urban population use the print media?

Q 50.

Mass literacy increased many fold in the nineteenth century, in Europe. Women children and workers started reading books. Discuss.