ASHIRWAD’S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, CBSE

Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi, Aff.No. : 1931312

History – 5 Print Culture and the Modern World

CLASSWORK

One Mark:

1. Name the earliest printing developed in China?

Woodblock printing.
2. Who brought print technology to Japan?
Buddhist missionaries from China around AD 768-770.
3. What is platen?
In letter press printing, platen is a board which is pressed onto the back of
the paper to get the impression from the type.
4. Who is a compositor?
The person who composes the text for printing.
5. What is ballad?
A historical account or folk tale in verse usually sung or recited.
6. What are taverns?
Places where people gathered to drink alcohol, to be served food and to meet
friends and exchange news.

Three Marks:

1. Write short notes to show what you know about:

a. The Gutenberg Press (or) What were the main features of
Gutenberg press? The Gutenberg Press (or) Who was Johann
Gutenberg? Explain his role in the history of printing.
b. Erasmus’s idea of the printed book.
c. The Vernacular Press Act. The introduction of the fly shuttle
enabled handloom workers to improve their productivity.
i. Gutenberg was the son of a merchant and grew up on a large agricultural
estate. From his childhood he had seen wine and olive presses.
Subsequently, he learnt the art of polishing stones became a master
goldsmith and also acquired the experts to create lead moulds used for
 making trinkets. Drawing on this knowledge, Gutenberg adapted existing
technology to design his innovation. The olive press provided the model
for the printing press and moulds were used for castingthe metal types for
the letters of the alphabet. By 1448, Gutenberg perfected the system. The
first book he printed was the Bible. About 180 copies were printed and it
took three years to produce them. By the standards of the time this was
fast production.
ii. Erasmus though that books were not good for sanctity of scholastic
knowledge. He was of the opinion that printed books would glut the
market with contents which will do more harm than good to society.
Because of this value of good content would be lost in the din.
iii. In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was passed modeled on the Irish Press
Laws. It provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports
and editorials in the vernacular press. From now on the government kept
regular track of the vernacular newspapers published in different
provinces. When a report was judged as seditious, the newspapers were
warned and if the warming was ignored the press was liable to be seized
and the printing machinery confiscated.
iv. Why did some people in 18th century Europe think that print culture
would bring enlightment and end despotism?
Some people in 18th century Europe thought that culture would bring
enlightment and end despotism. It’s easy and cheap availability meant that
literacy would no longer be restricted to the upper classes. While the clergy
and monarchs feared the enlightment that a vast reading public would gain,
reforms like Martin Luther welcomed the change. They felt that it would
mark an end to the blind adherence to the rule’s ideology. This can be seen
in the French Revolution as well. The print medium allowed the ideals blind
adherence to the rule’s ideology. This can be seen in the French Revolution
as well. The print medium allowed the ideals of freedom, equality and
brotherhood set forth by Rousseau and Voltaire in their writings to reach the
public. It created a new culture of dialogue and debate that initiated the
working class into questioning and re-evaluating social customs and norms.
The power of reason that the public gained initiated social reform and
brought an end to despotism.
2. What restrictions were imposed by the Vernacular Press Act on the
Indian Press? Explain.
OR
In what ways the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was a repressive step by
the Government? Explain.
i. The British government began to perceive vernacular newspaper as a
threat to its rule. This led to the enactment of Vernacular Press Act in
1878.
ii. It provided the government with extensive right to censor reports and
editorials in the vernacular newspapers.
iii. The government started regularly tracking the vernacular newspapers.
iv. For any report which proved anti-British rule, the newspaper was first
warned.
v. For the second mistake, there was provision to seize the press and
confiscate the machinery.
3. How did the ideas of scientists and philosophers become more accessible
to common people after the beginning of print revolution in Europe?
i. The ideas of scientists and philosophers now became more accessible to
the common people.
ii. Ancient and medieval scientific texts were compiled and published and
maps and scientific diagrams were widely printed.
iii. When scientists like Isaac Newton began to publish their discoveries they
could influence much wider circle of scientifically minded readers.
iv. The writings of thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean
Jacques Rousseau were also widely printed and read. Thus their ideas
about science, reasoning and nationality found their way into popular
literature.
4. “Print popularized the ideas of the Enlightment thinkers”. Explain.
OR
How did ideas about science, reason and nationality find their way into
popular literature in the 18th century Europe?
i. Collectively the writings of thinkers provided a critical commentary
on tradition, superstition and despotism.
 ii. Scholars and thinkers argued for the rule of reason rather than custom
and demanded that everything be judged through the application of
reason and rationality.
iii. They attacked the scared authority of the Church and the despotic
power of the state, thus eroding the legitimacy of a social order based
on tradition.
iv. The Writings of Voltaire and Rousseau were read widely and those
who read these books saw the world through new eyes, eyes that were
questioning, critical and rational.
5. State any three points of important of penny chapbooks.
OR
Describe some of the new printed books which were sold by the peddlers
in villages in the 18th century Europe.
i. Pockets sue books that were sold by travelling peddlers called
chapmen.
ii. These became popular form the time of the 16th century print
revolution.
iii. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political
and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales, children’s
literature and almanacs where there were illustrations they would be
popular prints.

Five Marks:

1. Explain the role of print in the religious reforms in India.

i. Debate over social issues: Print initiated an intense controversies
between social and religious reformers and the Hindu orthodoxy over
matters like widow immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical priesthood
and idolatry. In Bengal, as the debate developed, tracts and
newspapers proliferated, circulating a variety of arguments. To reach
a wider audience, the ideas were printed in the everyday, spoken
language of ordinary people.
ii. Ideas of Reformers: Print carried the ideas of social reformers to the
common people. For example Sambad Kaumudl carried the ideas and
philosophy of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
 iii.
Reforms in Muslims: 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.
To counter this, they 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 thousands upon thousands of fatwas telling Muslim readers
how to conduct themselves in their everyday lives and explaining the
meanings of Islamic doctrines.
iv. Reforms in Hindus: Among Hindus too print encouraged the reading
of religious texts, especially in the vernacular languages. The first
printed edition of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas a 16th century text,
came out from Calcutta in 1810.
2. What were the features of the new book which were produced in
Europe after the invention of the Gutenberg’s press?
i. Cheap: The books produced were very cheap as compared to earlier
books.
ii. Resemblance with Manuscripts: Printed books resembled greatly the
written manuscripts in appearance and layout the metal letters
imitated the ornamental handwritten styles.
iii. Handwork: Borders of the books were illuminated by hand with
foliage and other patterns.
iv. Role of painting: Illustrations were painted. The books printed for the
elites had space for decoration.
v. Different painting schools: Different painting schools prevailed and a
person could choose the design and decide on the painting school that
would do the illustrations exclusively for him.
3. How did print culture develop in Europe? Explain.
OR
How did print come to Europe from China? Explain.

i. Paper from China: Paper reached Europe from China through the Silk
route in the 11th century. With this the production of manuscripts written
by scribes became a regular feature.
 ii. Role of travellers and explorers: Marco Polo a great explorer reached
Italy after several years of exploration in China in the year 1295. Marco
Polo brought back with him the technology of woodblock printing. Now
Italians started publishing books with woodblocks. The technology
became popular in other parts in Europe as well.
iii. Woodblock printing: By the early 15th century, woodblocks started being
widely used in Europe to print textiles, playing cards and religious
pictures with simple brief texts.
iv. Johann Gutenberg and the printing press: A major revolution in the print
technology was brought by Johann Gutenberg. He developed the first
known printing press in the 1430’s. The first book he printed was the
Bible.
v. Spread of printing presses: In the next hundred years, i.e. between 1450
and 1550, printing presses were set up in most countries of Europe.