History

Print Culture and the Modern World

Question:

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

Answer:

(i) Increase in literacy rate: Through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries literacy rates went up in most parts of Europe. By the end of the eighteenth century, in some parts of Europe literacy rates were as high as 60 to 80 per cent. As literacy and schools spread in European countries, there was a virtual reading mania.
(ii) Role of periodicals: The periodical press developed from the early eighteenth century, Newspapers and journals carried information about wars and trade, as well as news of developments in other places.
(iii) Ideas of scientists and philosophers: Similarly, 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. 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.
(iv) Print a powerful engine of progress:
Louise-Sebastien Mercier, a novelist in eighteenth-century France, declared: ‘The printing press is the most powerful engine of progress and public opinion is the force that will sweep despotism away.' In many of Mercier's novels, the heroes are transformed by acts of reading.

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Print Culture and the Modern World

Q 1.

Who developed the first printing press ?

Q 2.

What medium was used for writing ancient Indian scriptures?

Q 3.

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

Q 4.

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

Q 5.

Who brought out the first Indian newspaper published in English?

Q 6.

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

Q 7.

What was the theme of the book Gulamgiri ?

Q 8.

Who was Marco Polo?

Q 9.

Who was Martin Luther ?

Q 10.

What were Biliotheque Blue ?

Q 11.

What was the basic objective of Ninety Five Theses ?

Q 12.

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

Q 13.

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 14.

What were ballads ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 15.

Name two scholars whose writings inspired French people.

Q 16.

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

Q 17.

Explain how the print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]

Q 18.

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

Q 19.

Explain how print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.

Q 20.

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 21.

By the 17th century, as urban culture Ans. bloomed in China, the uses of print diversified.’ Explain by giving examples.  [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Or
How did a new reading culture bloom in China ? Explain.

Q 22.

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 23.

What is calligraphy?

Q 24.

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

Q 25.

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

Q 26.

What is calligraphy ?

Q 27.

What was print revolution ?

Q 28.

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

Q 29.

Why did Governor General Warren Hastings persecute Hickey ?

Q 30.

Who wrote Gulamgiri ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 31.

What was Vernacular Press Act ? (CBSE 2014)

Q 32.

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

Q 33.

Mention any four social values which print culture promoted.

Q 34.

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

Q 35.

How did the urban population use the print media?

Q 36.

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

Q 37.

Write a brief note on Martin Luther.

Q 38.

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

Q 39.

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

Q 40.

What is manuscript ?

Q 41.

When did the first printing press come to India?

Q 42.

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

Q 43.

’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 44.

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 45.

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 46.

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

Q 47.

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 48.

Give reasons for the following:
a) Woodblock print only came to Europe after 1295.
b) Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out in praise of it.
c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an Index of Prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth century.
d) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of association.

Q 49.

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 50.

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