History

Print Culture and the Modern World

Question:

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]

Answer:

(i) Spreading of new ideas : After the coming of the print culture, the ideas of scientists and philosophers now became more accessible to the common people. Ancient and medieval scientific texts were compiled and published.
(ii) Scientific discoveries : Maps and more accurate scientific diagrams were widely printed. When scientists like Issac Newton began to publish their discoveries, they could influence a much wider circle of scientifically-minded readers.
(iii) Writings of scholars : The writings of thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau were also widely printed, and could gain popularity. Thus, their ideas about science, reasoning and rationality found their way into popular literature.
(iv) Books as medium of progress: By the mid-18th century, books became a medium of spreading progress and enlightenment which could change the society and the world. It was also believed that the books could literate society from despotism and tyranny.
(v) Ideas of enlightened thinkers : The print popularised the ideas of the enlightened thinkers like that of Martin Luther who attacked the authority of the Church and the despotic power of the state, e.g., Voltaire and Rousseau.
(vi) A new culture of dialogue and debate : The print created a new culture of dialogue and debate and the public, became aware of reasoning and recognised the need to question the existing ideas and beliefs.

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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.

What is manuscript ?

Q 6.

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

Q 7.

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

Q 8.

How was sale of books promoted in small towns?

Q 9.

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

Q 10.

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

Q 11.

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 12.

Write a brief note on Martin Luther.

Q 13.

Who started publishing Sambad Kaumudi from 1821?

Q 14.

What were Chap books ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 15.

Who printed the first Tamil book ?

Q 16.

’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 17.

Why did some people in eighteenth century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?

Q 18.

What is calligraphy?

Q 19.

What medium was used for writing ancient Indian scriptures?

Q 20.

Name two scholars whose writings inspired French people.

Q 21.

Who was the author of Amar Jiban ?

Q 22.

What was Vernacular Press Act ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 23.

What is calligraphy ?

Q 24.

Who wrote Gulamgiri ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 25.

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 26.

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

Q 27.

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 28.

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

Q 29.

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

Q 30.

What was the basic objective of Ninety Five Theses ?

Q 31.

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

Q 32.

Mention any four social values which print culture promoted.

Q 33.

What restrictions were imposed by the Vernacular Press Act on the Indian Press ? Explain. [CBSE-2011]
Or
In what ways the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was a repressive step by the Government ? Explain. [CBSE-2011]

Q 34.

Write short notes to show what you know about:
a) The Gutenberg Press
b) Erasmus's idea of the printed book
c) The Vernacular Press Act
c) The Vernacular Press Act

Q 35.

How did the urban population use the print media?

Q 36.

When was print technology introduced in Japan?

Q 37.

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

Q 38.

Who invented the letter press?

Q 39.

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

Q 40.

Print not only stimulate the publication of conflicting opinions amongst communities, but it also connected communities and people in different parts of India.' Explain. [CBSE 2008 (O), 2009 (D), Sept. 2011]
Or
How did print help connect communities and people in different parts of India ? Explain with examples. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]

Q 41.

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

Q 42.

Who were scribes ?

Q 43.

Who developed the first printing press ?

Q 44.

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

Q 45.

Who wrote Istri Dharam Vichar ?

Q 46.

What did the spread of print culture in the nineteenth century India mean to :
Reformers

Q 47.

The printing press is the most powerful engine of progress and public opinion and a force that will sweep despotism away.'

Q 48.

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

Q 49.

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 50.

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