7- Print Culture and the Modern World

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1. Why did the Roman Catholic Church impose control over publisher’s and booksellers?
Ans : The Roman Catholic Church troubled by effects of popular readings and questionings of
faith, imposed severe controls over publishers and booksellers.

2. Which place had the breakthrough of first printing press?

Ans : The breakthrough of first printing press took place in Strasbourg in Germany.

3. Mention the technique adopted to educate white collar workers in Europe during the 19th
century.
Ans : It was the technique of lending libraries to educate white collar workers in Europe
during the 19th century.

4. Mention any one technique of preserving the manuscript of India.

Ans : These were preserved by pressing between the wooden covers or sewn together.

5. Who brought the print culture to Japan?

Ans : The print culture was brought to Japan by the Buddhist Missionaries from China.

6. Name the Chinese traditional book, which was folded and stitched at the side.
Ans : The traditional ‘Accordion Book’ of China was folded and stitched at the side because
both the sides of the thin; porous sheets could not be printed.

7. Mention any one characteristic feature of the off-set press.

Ans : The offset press was able to print upto 6 colours at a time.

8. Name the first edition of the Indian religious text published in vernacular.
Ans : Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas was the first edition of the Indian religious text published
in vernacular.

9. Name the oldest Japanese book

Ans. The Buddhist Diamond Sutra was the oldest Japanese book.

10. Why couldn’t the production of hand written manuscripts satisfy the ever increasing
demand for books? Give any three reasons.
Ans : The production of handwritten manuscripts could not satisfy the ever increasing
demand for books due to the following reasons:
a. In India, there is rich and old tradition of handwritten manuscripts in different languages
which were copied on palm leaves or on handmade papers.
b. These manuscripts were highly expensive and fragile.
c. They needed careful handling.
11. Explain any three features of handwritten manuscripts before the age of print in India.
Ans : The three features of the handwritten manuscripts before the age of print in India are:
a. In India, there is rich and old tradition of handwritten manuscripts in different languages
which were copied on palm leaves or on handmade papers.
b. These manuscripts were highly expensive, fragile and needed careful handling.
c. These were preserved by pressing between the wooden covers or sewn together.
d. Reading the manuscripts was not easy as they were written in different styles which limits
its use.

12. Explain any three factors responsible for the invention of new printing techniques.
Ans : The three factors responsible for the invention of new printing techniques were:
a. The handwritten manuscripts production was not sufficient to meet the demand.
b. These manuscripts were highly expensive, fragile and needed careful handling.
c. It was expensive and time consuming to copy the handwritten manuscripts.

13. How’ were magazines different from novels? Write any three differences.
Ans. The three differences between the magazines and novels were:
a. The magazines had several stories whereas the novels had just one story.
b. The magazines were periodically published whereas the novels were one time publication.
c. There might be several writers of one magazine but the novels had only one author.

14. In what three ways did the printed books at first closely resemble the written
manuscripts?
Ans : The three ways in which initially the printed books closely resembled the written
manuscripts were:
a. Initially the printed books resembled the written manuscripts in appearance.
b. It resembled in layout as the metal letters imitated the ornamental handwritten styles and
the borders were illuminated by hand.
c. There was blank space for decoration in the books printed for the rich and the design was
chosen by the buyer.

15. How did the print bring the reading public and hearing public closer?
Ans : Earlier the society was divided into the oral culture and reading culture. The common
people had the oral culture while only the rich people had the reading culture. The common
people heard the texts collectively which were read out or recited or narrated to them. The
reading culture was only limited to the elites and they only read the books individually and
silently. The reason behind this culture may be the books were expensive, produced less in
numbers and also the literacy rate was very low in most of the European countries. To solve
the problem of illiteracy as a barrier in the wider reach of the printed books, the popular
ballads and folk tales beautifully illustrated with pictures were published which were sung
and recited in the village gatherings and the taverns in towns. Hence the line separating the
oral culture and the reading culture started becoming blurred.
16. Describe wood-block printing.
Ans : Wood-block printing was a technique of printing the books by rubbing the paper
against the inked surface of the woodblocks. Marco Polo returned to Italy from China in the
year 1295 and brought the technology of woodblock printing. To meet the expanded
demand for books the export of books increased, book fairs were held, organized the
production of handwritten manuscripts and woodblock printing became more popular.

17. What was Protestant reformation?

Ans : Martin Luther was a religious reformer. He wrote 95 theses in the year 1517 against
the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. This action of Martin Luther led to
the division within the church and marked the beginning of the Protestant reformers. It was
basically a movement for the reformation of the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century.

18. Explain any three reasons which created a large number of new readers in the
nineteenth century.
Ans : Three reasons which created a large number of new readers in the nineteenth century
were:
a. During this period the literacy increased which increased the number of readers among
the children, women and workers.
b. Primary education was made compulsory and hence the children became the important
section of readers. The publishing industries started producing the school textbooks. In the
year 1857, a children’s press was set up in France for publishing the literature for children
only which published the new works along with the old fairy and folk tales.
c. Technique of lending libraries to educate white collar workers in Europe during the 19th
century. d. Women became the important readers as well as writers. For women readers
especially there was penny magazines.

19. What were the limitations of the written manuscripts in India? Explain.
Ans : The following were the limitations of the written manuscripts in India:
a. These manuscripts were highly expensive, fragile and needed careful handling.
b. Reading the manuscripts was not easy as they were written in different styles which
limits its use.
c. It was not used in everyday life by the common people.

20. Examine the role of missionaries in the growth of press in India.

Ans : The hand printing technology was introduced to Japan by the Buddhist missionaries of
China around AD 768-770. In 868 AD, the Buddhist Diamond Sutra was printed which is
considered the oldest Japanese book. It contain 6 sheets of text and woodcut illustrations.
a. The Portuguese missionaries firstly brought the printing press to Goa in India in the mid-
16th century.
b. The Jesuit priests learnt Konkani and Kanara languages in India.
c. Tamil texts were also printed (32 texts) and translated by the Dutch missionaries by the
year 1710.

21. How did the knowledge of wood block printing come to Europe? Explain.
Ans.a. The wood block printing was developed in China. In this technology the books were
printed by rubbing the paper against the surface of the woodblocks.
b. Earlier the silk route was used by China to export silk and spices to Europe and in the 17th
century through the same route Chinese paper reached Europe.
c. Marco Polo returned to Italy from China in the year 1295 and brought the technology of
woodblock printing.
d. To meet the expanded demand for books the export of books increased, book fairs were
held, organized the production of handwritten manuscripts and woodblock printing became
more popular.

22. “By the end of 19th century a new visual culture was taking shape.” Explain.
Ans : It is true to state that by the end of 19th century a new visual culture was taking shape.
Lyrics, short stories, essays on social and political matters, visual images, calendars,
caricatures and cartoons became the new forms of publications. Raja Ravi Varma was the
famous painter in the 19th century India. These new forms of publications popularized the
ideas of modernity and tradition, religion and politics, and society and culture.

23. How did new form of popular literature appear in print targeting new audience in the
18th century? Explain with examples.
Ans : Lyrics, short stories, essays on social and political matters, visual images, calendars,
caricatures and cartoons became the new forms of publications. These new forms of
publications popularized the ideas of modernity and tradition, religion and politics, and
society and culture. Women’s reading increased among the middle class because their lives
and feeling began to be written. For the easy and affordable access of the printed books to
even the poor people very cheap, small books were published and also the public libraries
were set up. Primary education was made compulsory and hence the children became the
important section of readers. The publishing industries started producing the school
textbooks.

24. Explain the effects of print culture in the religious sphere in early modern Europe.
Ans : The print culture helped in the circulation of ideas, debates and discussion. It was used
by the rebellions to let the people know the truth and take action against the established
authorities. The printed books were welcomed and also people had fear due to the
rebellious and irreligious thoughts.
a. Martin Luther was a religious reformer. He wrote 95 theses in the year 1517 against the
practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church.
b. Menocchio was a miller in Italy who interpreted the message of Bible. The Roman Catholic
Church was enraged due to his view of god and creation.
c. The Roman Catholic Church started identifying such ideas, beliefs and persons who wrote
against the church and thus Menocchio was hauled up twice and finally executed.
d. Several restrictions were put over the publishers and the booksellers by the church and
also the church ordered them to follow the Index of prohibited books from 1558.

25. Who invented printing press? How did he develop the printing technology?
Ans : Johann Gutenberg developed the first known printing press in 1430s at Strasbourg,
Germany. Most of his childhood was spent on a large agricultural estates where he saw wine
and olive presses. He learnt polishing stones and created lead moulds. The olive press was
the model for the printing press and the moulds were used for casting the metal types for
the letters of the alphabet.

26. The ‘print revolution’ had transformed the lives of people changing their relationship to
information and knowledge.” Analyse the statement.
Ans : Print revolution was a development in terms of producing the books in a newer and
faster way which transformed the lives of the people, their relationship with information
and knowledge and opened ways for newer perception in the world. The introduction of
printing press brought the following changes — a new culture of reading emerged, cost of
the books came down, reduced the time and labour engaged in publishing, produced
multiple copies and the market got flooded with books. The print culture helped in the
circulation of ideas, debates and discussion. It was used by the rebellions to let the people
know the truth and take action against the established authorities. In the 17th and 18th
centuries number of schools were opened by the churches to spread literacy in the villages
and to the peasants and artisans which caused a virtual reading mania. During this period
the literacy increased which rose the number of readers among the children, women and
workers.

27. How did print introduce debate and discussions? Explain any three points.
Ans : a. The print culture spread the ideas of the great thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau.
They criticized tradition, custom, superstition, despotism and the authority of church. They
wanted rule of reason, questioning and rationality.
b. Debate and dialogue started due to the coming of the print culture which resulted in the
re-evaluation of the values, norms and the institutions. This had brought the idea of social
revolution.
c. The morality pf the royal powers were criticized and the social order was questioned. The
cartoons and the caricatures revealed the sensual pleasures of the monarchs and the
hardship of the common people. Hence, the people stood against the monarchy.
d. During the 19th century, people debated, interpreted and criticized the different religious
beliefs like widow immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical priesthood and idolatry. Some
people campaigned for the reform whereas others countered the arguments of the
reformers.
e. The printed materials and the newspapers spread the new ideas and also shaped the
nature of debate which gave opportunity to the people to participate in the public debates.

28. “Printing press played a major role in shaping the Indian society of the 19th century.”
Analyse the statement
.Ans : Yes, it is true to say that Printing press played a major role in shaping the Indian
society of the 19th century.
a. The Portuguese missionaries firstly brought the printing press to Goa in India in the mid-
16th century.
b. During the 19th century, people debated, interpreted and criticized the different religious
beliefs like widow immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical priesthood and idolatry. Some
people campaigned for the reform whereas others countered the arguments of the
reformers.
c. The printed materials and the newspapers spread the new ideas and also shaped the
nature of debate which gave opportunity to the people to participate in the public debates.
d. Women’s reading increased among the middle class because their lives and feeling began
to be written and also the liberal husbands and fathers focused on their education. e. For
the easy and affordable access of the printed books to even the poor people very cheap,
small books were published and also the public libraries were set up.

29. What was the attitude of the liberal and conservative Indians towards women’s reading?
How did women like Kailashbhashini Debi respond to this in their writings?
Ans : Women’s reading increased among the middle class because their lives and feeling
began to be written and also the liberal husbands and fathers focused on their education.
The conservative Hindu families believed that the literate girl would be widowed. The
conservative Muslim families thought that by reading Urdu romances their women would be
corrupted. Kailashbhashini Debi from Bengal, wrote about the experiences of the women
such as how they are imprisoned at home, ignorance, forced work, unjust treatment at
home and society etc.

30. Explain with examples the role of print culture in the bringing of the French revolution.
Ans : Three different arguments were put forward in connection with the print culture and
the French revolution. The print culture spread the ideas of the great thinkers like Voltaire
and Rousseau. They criticized tradition, custom, superstition, despotism and the authority of
church. They wanted rule of reason, questioning and rationality. Debate and dialogue
started due to the coming of the print culture which resulted in the re-evaluation of the
values, norms and the institutions. This had brought the idea of social revolution. The
morality of the royal powers were criticized and the social order was questioned. The
cartoons and the caricatures revealed the sensual pleasures of the monarchs and the
hardship of the common people. Hence, the people stood against the monarchy. It is not
true to say that the print culture was the direct cause of the French revolution. The print
culture spread the ideas but people were reading different kinds of literature in which
people like Voltaire and Rousseau were also exposed. The people interpreted the things in
their own way as they accepted some ideas and rejected others.

31. How had the earliest printing technology developed in the world? Explain with examples.
Ans : The development of the earliest printing technology can be traced as follows:
a. In the beginning the system of hand printing was developed in China, Japan and Korea.
b. The wood block printing was developed in China. In this technology the books were
printed by rubbing the paper against the surface of the woodblocks.
c. The volume of the print increased in China due to the increase in the number of
candidates in the civil services exam through which the candidates were recruited in the
huge bureaucratic system.
d. 17th century urbanization in China also diversified the use of print in China. The scholar
officials, merchants, rich women, wives and courtesans started the use of print.
e. The western printing techniques and mechanical presses reached the outpost of China
and thus Shanghai became the hub of this new print culture.

32. Martin Luther remarked, “Printing is the ultimate gift of god and the greatest one.”
Explain his remarks in the light of religious reforms that took place in Europe.
Ans : Martin Luther was a religious reformer. He wrote 95 theses in the year 1517 against
the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. This action of Martin Luther led to
the division within the church and marked the beginning of the Protestants reformers.
Luther said that the ‘printing is the ultimate gift of god and the greatest one’ because 5000
copies of his translated New Testament were sold within few weeks and also the 2nd edition
came in the market in three months only. Menocchio was a miller in Italy who interpreted
the message of Bible. The Roman Catholic Church was enraged due to his view of god and
creation. The Roman Catholic Church started identifying such ideas, beliefs and persons who
wrote against the church and thus Menocchio was hauled up twice and finally executed.
Several restrictions were put over the publishers and the booksellers by the church and also
the church ordered them to follow the Index of Prohibited Books from 1558.

33. Printing technology gave women a chance to share their feelings with the world
outside.” Support the statement with any five examples.
Ans : 7th century urbanization in China also ) diversified the use of print in China. The scholar
officials, merchants, rich women, wives and courtesans started the use of print. Women
became the important readers as well as writers. For women readers especially there was
penny magazines. These magazines were basically the manuals of proper behaviour and
housekeeping.
a. Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and George Eliot were some famous women novelists.
These women novelists defined a new type of women with will, strength of personality,
determination and power to think. Kailashbhashini Debi from Bengal, wrote about the
experiences of the women such as how they are imprisoned at home, ignorance, forced
work, unjust treatment at home and society etc.
b. Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai from Maharashtra wrote about the miserable lives of
the widows.
c. The Hindi printing discussed the issues like women’s education, widow remarriage and
national movement along with the household and fashion lessons.
d. Istri Dharm Vichar was published by Ram Chaddha of Punjab to teach women how to
become an obedient wife.
e. The Khalsa Tract Society also wrote about the good qualities of women. It was basically in
the form of dialogues.
f. The Battala in the central Calcutta was known for the printing of the popular books
including the religious as well as obscene and scandalous literatures.

34. How did a new reading public emerge with the printing press? Explain.
Ans : a. The introduction of printing press brought the following changes –
 a new culture of reading emerged, cost of the books came down, reduced the time and
labour engaged in publishing, produced multiple copies and the market got flooded with
books.
b. Earlier, the society was divided into the oral culture and reading culture. The common
people had the oral culture while only the rich people had the reading culture,
c. The common people heard the texts collectively which were read out or recited or
narrated to them.
d. The reading culture was only limited upto the elites and they only read the books
individually and silently. The reason behind this culture may be the books were expensive,
produced less in numbers and also the literacy rate was very low in most of the European
countries.
e. To solve the problem of illiteracy in the wider reach of the printed books, the popular
ballads and folk tales beautifully illustrated with pictures were published which were sung
and recited in the village gatherings and the taverns in towns. Hence the line separating the
oral culture and the reading culture started becoming blurred.

Q35. Explain how the print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.
Or
Role of novels were different for colonisers and nationalists. Explain.
Ans. i) By the end of 19th century, a large number of newspapers in Indian vernacular
languages were published.
(ii) These newspapers published articles written by national leaders. Their ideas were
communicated to people through these newspapers.
(iii) The people of different communities and places were thus connected by print media.
Newspapers conveyed news from one place to another creating pan-Indian identity.
(iv) The nationalist newspapers exposed the colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist
activities. As these were written in spoken languages of various regions common man could
easily understand the content.
(v) When Punjab revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Balagangadhar Tilak wrote articles
sympathising with them. He was arrested which provoked protest among masses.
Thus it is clear, print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.

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