Summary of the Chapter

The chapter "Print Culture and the Modern World" explores the history of print technology from its origins in East Asia to its development in Europe and its impact on modern society. It begins with the earliest print technology in China, Japan, and Korea, highlighting how woodblock printing was used for centuries. The chapter then traces the journey of print to Europe through Marco Polo and the development of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century.

The chapter examines how the print revolution transformed society by creating a new reading public, enabling the spread of new ideas, and fostering debate and discussion. It discusses the role of print in the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the French Revolution. The chapter also covers the growth of print culture in India, from the arrival of Portuguese missionaries with the printing press to the establishment of vernacular newspapers and their role in the Indian national movement. Finally, it explores how print technology created new forms of literature and enabled women to express themselves.

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NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers

Write in Brief (Page 128)

Question 1: 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.

Answer-
(a) Woodblock print came to Europe after 1295 because: Marco Polo, the Italian explorer, returned to Italy in 1295 after spending years in China where he learned about woodblock printing. He brought this knowledge back with him, introducing the technology to Europe.

(b) Martin Luther was in favour of print because: Print helped him spread his ideas quickly and widely. His Ninety-Five Theses criticizing the Catholic Church were printed and circulated throughout Europe, enabling the Protestant Reformation to gain momentum. Print allowed his message to reach people beyond his immediate circle.

(c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an Index of Prohibited Books because: The Church wanted to control the spread of ideas that challenged its authority. The print revolution had made it easier for heretical and reformist ideas to circulate, so the Church created this list to ban and control the reading of such books.

(d) Gandhi said this because: He believed that these freedoms were essential for the success of the national movement. Liberty of speech and press allowed nationalists to express their views and mobilize public opinion, while freedom of association enabled people to organize and work collectively for independence.

Question 2: Write short notes to show what you know about: (a) The Gutenberg Press (b) The Erasmus's idea of the printed book (c) The Vernacular Press Act

Answer-
(a) The Gutenberg Press: Johannes Gutenberg developed the first known printing press in the 1430s in Strasbourg, Germany. His innovation included the mould for casting metal types for letters of the alphabet and a new type of ink. The Gutenberg Bible (1455) was the first book printed using this system. This invention revolutionized book production and made books more accessible.

(b) Erasmus's idea of the printed book: Erasmus, a Latin scholar and Catholic reformer, criticized the printing of books that he considered irreligious. However, he also used the print medium to spread his own ideas. He believed that books should promote knowledge and religious reform but was concerned about books that might spread what he saw as nonsensical or irreligious ideas.

(c) The Vernacular Press Act: Passed in 1878 by the British government in India, this act provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the vernacular press. The government kept regular track of vernacular newspapers, and if any report was judged seditious, the newspaper was warned. This was meant to suppress nationalist criticism of government policies.

Question 3: What did the spread of print culture in nineteenth-century India mean to: (a) Women (b) The poor (c) Reformers

Answer-
(a) For Women: Print culture created new opportunities for women readers and writers. Women began reading novels and journals, which some conservatives feared would corrupt them. Liberal husbands and fathers began educating women at home. Women like Rashsundari Debi wrote autobiographies, expressing their inner world and challenging traditional norms.

(b) For The Poor: Very cheap small books were brought to markets in nineteenth-century Madras towns and sold at crossroads, allowing poor people traveling to markets to buy them. Public libraries were set up from the early twentieth century, expanding access to books. Workers' journals and nationalist writings also reached poor readers.

(c) For Reformers: Print culture helped reformers spread their ideas and challenge orthodox practices. Reformers used print to criticize existing social evils and suggest reforms. Newspapers carried essays about social reforms, and debates between reformers and orthodox elements were carried out in print, reaching a wide audience.

Discuss (Page 128-129)

Question 1: Why did some people in eighteenth-century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?

Answer-
People in eighteenth-century Europe believed print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism because:

1.Spread of new ideas: Print made it possible to circulate Enlightenment ideas that questioned traditional authority and promoted reason, liberty, and equality.

2.Critique of despotism: Writers like Voltaire and Rousseau used print to criticize monarchical despotism and advocate for democratic ideals.

3.Public debate: Print created a public sphere where people could discuss and debate ideas, challenging the monopoly of knowledge held by rulers and the church.

4.Access to information: As literacy spread and books became cheaper, more people could access knowledge and form their own opinions about governance.

5.Questioning tradition: Print encouraged people to question traditional beliefs and institutions, including absolute monarchy.

Question 2: Why did some people fear the effect of easily available printed books? Choose one example from Europe and one from India.

Answer-
Example from Europe: Both the Roman Catholic Church and monarchs feared the effect of printed books. The Church was concerned that printed books would spread ideas that challenged its authority, as happened during the Protestant Reformation. They established the Index of Prohibited Books to control what people could read.

Example from India: Orthodox Hindus and Muslims feared that printed books, especially those in vernacular languages, would corrupt traditional values. They were particularly concerned about women reading novels and journals, fearing it would disrupt the social order and lead them astray from their traditional roles.

Question 3: What were the effects of the spread of print culture for poor people in nineteenth-century India?

Answer-
The effects of print culture on poor people in nineteenth-century India included:

1.Access to cheap literature: Very cheap small books were available at markets, making reading material accessible to the poor.

2.Public libraries: From the early twentieth century, public libraries were established, expanding access to books for those who couldn't afford to buy them.

3.Workers' journals: Journals written for and sometimes by workers discussed issues relevant to the poor and working classes.

4.Nationalist awareness: Print helped spread nationalist ideas among the poor, creating political awareness.

5.Oral culture integration: Publishers began producing popular ballads and folk tales in printed form, connecting print culture with existing oral traditions.

Question 4: Explain how print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.

Answer-
Print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India in several ways:

1.Spread of nationalist ideas: Newspapers and journals carried articles, essays, and poems that expressed nationalist sentiments and criticized colonial rule.

2.Debate and discussion: Print created a public sphere where Indians could discuss political issues and imagine themselves as part of a nation.

3.Vernacular newspapers: Newspapers in Indian languages reached wider audiences and helped create a sense of shared identity.

4.Nationalist leaders: Leaders used print to communicate their ideas and mobilize people across regions.

5.Critique of colonial policies: Print enabled Indians to critically examine and protest against British policies.

6.Cultural revival: Print helped revive and standardize Indian languages, contributing to cultural nationalism.

7.Countering colonial narratives: Indian writers used print to challenge British portrayals of Indian history and society.

Project (Page 129)

Question 1: Find out more about the changes in print technology in the last 100 years. Write about the changes, explaining why they have taken place, what their consequences have been.

Answer-
Changes in Print Technology in the Last 100 Years:

1.Offset Printing (Early 20th century): Replaced letterpress printing, allowing faster and cheaper production of books and newspapers.

2.Photocopying (1930s-1950s): Enabled easy reproduction of documents without traditional printing.

3.Computer Typesetting (1970s-1980s): Replaced manual typesetting, making the process faster and more efficient.

4.Digital Printing (1990s): Allowed printing directly from digital files, enabling print-on-demand and short runs.

5.Desktop Publishing (1980s): Made it possible for individuals to design and produce printed materials.

6.Internet and E-books (1990s-2000s): Created new digital formats for reading.

Consequences:
Democratization of publishing: More people can publish their work.
Decline of traditional printing: Newspapers and books face competition from digital media.
Environmental concerns: Reduced paper waste through digital alternatives.
Global access: Information can be shared instantly worldwide.
New business models: Print-on-demand and self-publishing have emerged.

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Important Keywords from the Chapter

• Print Culture: The system of production and distribution of printed material
• Woodblock Printing: Earliest known printing technique using carved wooden blocks
• Gutenberg Press: First printing press developed by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1430s
• Vernacular: The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular region
• Index of Prohibited Books: List of books banned by the Roman Catholic Church
• Protestant Reformation: 16th-century movement for reform in the Catholic Church
• Enlightenment: 18th-century European intellectual movement emphasizing reason
• Vernacular Press Act: 1878 British law to censor Indian language newspapers
• Manuscript: Handwritten document or book
• Calligraphy: The art of beautiful and stylized handwriting
• Compositor: The person who composes the text for printing
• Galley: Metal frame in which type is laid and secured for printing
• Ballad: A historical account or folk tale in verse form
• Tavern: A place where people gathered to drink, eat, and socialize