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Page No. 128

Q.1 Give reason for the following:

  1. Woodblock print only came to Europe after 1295.
  2. Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out in praise of it.
  3. The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an Index of prohibited books from the mid-sixteenth century
  4. Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for the liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of association.

Solution: (a) Marco Polo, the Italian explorer, visited China and learnt the technology of woodblock printing. When he returned to Italy in 1295, he brought this knowledge back with him. Gradually this knowledge spread from Italy to other parts of Europe.

(b) In 1517, Martin Luther, the religious reformer, wrote ninety-five theses that criticised the corrupt practices of the Catholic Church and pasted these on the church door in Wittenberg. Very soon, thousands of copies of Luther’s theses were printed, spreading his ideas among people. Martin Luther was deeply moved to realize the power of printing, which brought about the reformation movement and the eventual birth of Protestantism.

(c) Print and popular literature encouraged many distinctive interpretations of religious faiths and ideas. In the 16th century, Manocchio, a roller in Italy, began to read books available readily in his locality. He gave a new interpretation of the Bible and formulated a view of God and creation that enraged the Roman Catholic Church. As a result, Manocchio was hauled up twice and ultimately executed when the Roman Catholic Church began its inquisition.

(d) Mahatma Gandhi said these words in 1922 during the Non-cooperation Movement (1920-22). According to him, without the liberty of speech, the liberty of the press and freedom of association, no nation can even survive. If the country was to get free from foreign domination, then these liberties were quite important.

Q.2 Write short notes on what you know about:

  1. The Gutenberg Press
  2. Erasmus’s idea of the printed book
  3. The Vernacular Press Act

Solution: (a) The Gutenberg Press was the first printing press of Europe. It was invented by Johannes Gutenberg of Strasbourg. He grew up in a large agricultural estate and had knowledge and experience in operating olive and wine presses. He invented the printing press around the year 1448, with the Bible being the first book to be printed.

(b) Erasmus, the Latin scholar, was not happy with the printing of books because he was afraid that this would lead to the circulation of books with rebellious ideas. He felt that although a few books may give useful information, the majority of books may just be irrelevant or illogical, through which scandalous or irreligious ideas will spread, ultimately leading to incitement of rebellion.

(c) The Vernacular Press Act was 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. If a vernacular paper published any seditious material, the paper was banned, and its printing machinery was seized and destroyed.

Q.3 What did the spread of print culture in the nineteenth century India mean to:

  1. Women
  2. The poor
  3. Reformers

Solution: (a) Women: Women became as important as readers and writers. Reading habits improved among them. With an increase in literacy, women took a great interest in reading and writing. Many journals started emphasizing the importance of women’s education. Many magazines and books were especially published for women. The print culture gave women some amount of freedom to read and develop their own views on various issues, especially those related to women.

(b) The Poor: As the literacy rate improved in Europe as well as in India, printed material, especially for entertainment, began to reach even the poor. In England, ‘penny magazines’ were carried by peddlers and sold for a penny so that even poor people could buy them. Those who could not read could listen to the stories and folklore. These stories and folklore could be read out to them by others. Books could be hired for a nominal fee from some book owners. Even in India, very cheap small books were brought to the market in 19th-century Madras towns,  which allowed poor people to have access to print culture.

(c) Reformers: Reformers used newspapers, journals and books to highlight the social evils prevailing in the society. Raja Ram Mohan Roy published the ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ to highlight the plight of widows. From the 1860s, many Bengali women writers like Kailashbashini Debi wrote books highlighting the experiences of women, about how women were imprisoned at home, kept in ignorance, forced to do hard domestic labour and treated unjustly by the menfolk they served.

Discuss

Q.1 Why did some people in the eighteenth century Europe think that culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?

Solution:

  1. With the spreading of new ideas after the coming of print culture, the ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common people. Ancient and medieval scientific texts were compiled and published.
  2. Books as a medium of progress by the eighteenth century: Books became a medium of spreading progress and enlightenment, which could change society and the world. It was also believed that the books could liberate society from despotism and tyranny.
  3. Writings of scholars: The writings of thinkers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Paine and Voltaire were also widely printed and could gain popularity. Thus, their ideas about science, rationality and reasoning found their way into popular literature.
  4. 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.

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

Solution: Some people, especially from the upper class, feared the effect of easily available printed books due to the spread of literacy among the common people. They feared that they might lose their position or authorities. Some people thought that it might lead to the spread of rebellions and irreligious thoughts.

Example:
(i) In Europe, the Roman Catholic Church tried to curb printed books through the Index of Prohibited Books.
(ii) In India, the Vernacular Press Act imposed restrictions on Indian press and various local newspapers.

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

Solution: Public libraries were set up in the early twentieth century, expanding access to books. These libraries were located mostly in cities and towns and, at times, in prosperous villages. For rich local patrons, setting up a library was a way of acquiring prestige.

From the late nineteenth century, issues of caste discrimination were written about in many printed tracts and essays.

Jyotiba Phule, the Maratha pioneer of ‘low caste’ protest movements, wrote about the injustices of the caste system in his Gulamgiri (1871). In the twentieth century, B.R. Ambedkar in Maharashtra and E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker in Madras (better known as Periyar) wrote powerfully on caste, and their writings were read by people all over India. Local protest movements and sects also created a lot of popular journals and tracts, criticising ancient scriptures and envisioning a new and just future.

At the very least, it made pooer people aware of their rights and their place in society and Print media showed the way in which they can improve their lot in life.

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

Solution: Print culture assisted in the growth of nationalism in India in the following ways:

  1. By the end of the 19th century, a large number of newspapers in Indian vernacular languages were published, making it easier to circumvent the language barriers among the various ethnic groups of Indians.
  2. These newspapers published articles written by national leaders. Their ideas were communicated to the masses through these newspapers.
  3. The people of different communities and places were thus connected by print media. Newspapers conveyed news from one place to another, creating a pan-Indian identity.
  4. The nationalist newspapers exposed the colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities. As these were written in spoken languages of various regions, the common man could easily understand the content.
  5. For example, when Punjab revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Balagangadhar Tilak wrote articles sympathising with them. He was arrested, which provoked protest among the masses.

Thus, it is clear that print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.

Q.5. 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]
Ans. (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 a medium of progress: By the mid-18th century, books became a medium of spreading progress and enlightenment which could change 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 recognized the need to question the existing ideas and beliefs.

Q.6. Why did some people fear the effect of easily available printed books? Choose one example from Europe and one from India. [CBSE Sept. 2011]
Or
Explain the role played by print in bringing about a division in the Roman Catholic Church. [CBSE Sept. 2011]
Or
Explain the role played by print in the spreading of Protestant Reformation. [CBSE 2012, 2013]
Ans. Not everyone welcomed the printed books and those, who did, also had fear about them. Many were of the opinion that printed words and the wider circulation of books, would have a negative impact on people’s minds. They feared that if there was no control over what was printed and read, then rebellious and irreligious thoughts might gain importance. There was also fear in the minds of scholars that the authority of ‘valuable’ literature would be destroyed. The new print was criticized by religious authorities, monarchs, as well as by writers and artists.

Let us consider the implication of this in one sphere of life in early modern Europe, i.e., religion. Martin Luther was a German monk, priest, professor, and Church reformer. In 1517, he wrote Ninety Five Theses and openly criticised many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. A printed copy of this was pasted on a Church door in Wittenberg. It challenged the Church to debate his ideas. Luther’s writings were immediately copied in vast numbers and read widely. This led to a division within the Church and led to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Manx; conservative FUndus believed that a literate girl would be widowed and Muslims believed that educated women could get corrupted by reading Urdu romances. There were many instances of women defying this prohibition.

Q.7. What were the effects of the spread of print culture for the poor people in the nineteenth century India ?

The spread of print culture in nineteenth-century India had significant effects on the lives of the poor people. Here are some of the key effects:

  1. Access to Information: Print culture expanded access to information and knowledge for the poor people in India. Newspapers, books, and pamphlets became more widely available, allowing individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to stay informed about various social, political, and cultural issues. This increased access to information empowered the poor to engage in public discourse and be aware of developments happening beyond their immediate surroundings.

  2. Education and Literacy: The availability of printed materials played a crucial role in promoting education and literacy among the poor. Books and reading materials became more affordable and accessible, enabling individuals to learn to read and write. This opened up opportunities for personal development and social mobility, as education became a pathway for the poor to gain knowledge, skills, and better employment prospects.

  3. Social and Political Awareness: Print culture fostered social and political awareness among the poor in nineteenth-century India. Newspapers and pamphlets disseminated ideas and opinions about social inequalities, colonial rule, and political movements. The poor could learn about the struggles and aspirations of various social reformers, nationalist leaders, and political activists. This increased awareness empowered them to participate in social and political movements, demand rights and justice, and challenge oppressive practices.

  4. Cultural Revival and Identity Formation: Print culture played a crucial role in the revival and preservation of indigenous cultural traditions and heritage. Literary works, folklore, and religious texts were printed and circulated, strengthening cultural identities and promoting a sense of pride among the poor. This helped in preserving and promoting regional languages, literature, and diverse cultural expressions.

  5. Social Reform Movements: The spread of print culture acted as a catalyst for social reform movements in nineteenth-century India. Books, newspapers, and journals disseminated ideas that challenged social evils such as caste discrimination, child marriage, and gender inequality. The poor people, who were often victims of these oppressive practices, became aware of the need for social change and actively participated in reform movements.

  6. Empowerment and Voice: Print culture provided a platform for the poor to voice their opinions, concerns, and grievances. Newspapers and periodicals allowed individuals to share their experiences, write letters to the editor, and contribute to public debates. This gave the poor a voice in public discourse, enabling them to express their views, highlight injustices, and advocate for their rights.

  7. Formation of Public Opinion: The spread of print culture helped in the formation of public opinion among the poor. They could read about different perspectives and arguments on various issues, enabling them to form their own opinions. This, in turn, influenced public debates and shaped the course of social and political movements in nineteenth-century India.

In summary, the spread of print culture in nineteenth-century India had transformative effects on the lives of the poor people. It expanded access to information, promoted education and literacy, fostered social and political awareness, empowered the marginalized, and facilitated cultural revival. The print media played a vital role in shaping public opinion, giving voice to the poor, and contributing to social reform movements in the country.

Q.8. Explain how the print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]
Ans. (i) New ideas and debates : There were many who criticised the existing practices and campaigned for reforms, while others countered the arguments of the reformers. These debates were carried out openly in public and in print. Printed tracts and newspapers not only spread the new ideas, but they also shaped the nature of the debate. All this assisted the growth of nationalism.

(ii) Connecting various communities : Print did not only stimulate the publication of conflicting opinions amongst communities, but it also connected communities and people living in different parts of India. Newspapers conveyed news from one place to another, creating pan-Indian identities.

(iii) Print and newspaper : Despite repressive measures, nationalist newspapers grew in numbers in all parts of India. They reported on colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities. When Punjab revolutionaries were deported in 1907, Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote with great sympathy about them in Kesari.

(iv) Various novels on national history: Many novels written by Indian novelists like Bankim’s Anandamath created a sense of pan-Indian belonging. Munshi Premchand’s novel, Godan highlighted how Indian peasants were exploited by the colonial bureaucrats.

(v) Various images of Bharatmata : Printers like Raja Ravi Verma and Rabindranath Tagore produced images of Bharatmata which produced a sense of nationalism among Indians. The devotion to mother figure came to be seen as evidence of one’s nationalism.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which one of the following is the oldest Japanese book? [CBSE (CCE) 2011]
(a) Sutta Pitaka
(b) Diamond Sutra
(c) Maha Vamsa
(d) Dipa Vamsa

2. The first printing press was developed by [CBSE (CCE) 2011]
(a) Marco Polo
(b) Kitagawa Utamaro
(c) Johann Gutenberg
(d) Erasmus

3. Who wrote about the injustices of the caste system in ‘Gulamgiri’? [CBSE (CCE) 2011]
(a) Raja Rammohan Roy
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(d) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

4. Who among the following is an enlightened thinker whose writings are said to have created conditions for a revolution in France? [CBSE (CCE) 2011]
(a) Rousseau
(b) Louise Setastin Mercier
(c) Menocchio
(d) Johann Gutenberg

5. Which religious reformer was responsible for the Reformation Movement?
(a) Martin Luther
(b) Martin Luther King
(c) The Grimm Brothers
(d) George Elliot

6. Who among the following was not a women novelist?
(a) Jane Austen
(b) Bronte Sisters
(c) George Eliot
(d) Maxim Gorky

7. Which of the following countries was the earliest producer of printing material?
(a) Persia
(b) India
(c) China
(d) Japan

8. From where did Marcopolo bring back the knowledge of woodblock printing to Italy?
(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) Sri Lanka
(d) India

9. By whom was the New Testament first translated?
(a) Erasmus
(b) Leonardo da Vince
(c) Martin Luther
(d) Manocchio

10. In ancient India which of the following material was used for writing manuscripts?
(a) Parchments
(b) Vellum
(c) Palm leaves
(d) Paper

11. Name the first weekly magazine published in India by Gangadhar Bhattacharya.
(a) Anandabazar Patrika
(b) Bengal Gazette
(c) Yugantar
(d) Sambad Kaumudi

12. By whom was ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ published’ in 1821?
(a) Iswer Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) C.R. Das
(c) Raja Rammohun Roy
(d) Swami Vivekanand

13. ‘Amar Jiban’ is the autobiography of which of the following woman author?
(a) Rashsundari Debi
(b) Rokeya Hossein
(c) Kailashbashini Devi
(d) Pandita Ramabai

14. Who among the following was popularly known as Periyar?
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker
(d) S. Naidu

15. Which one of the following best explains calligraphy?
(a) The art of painting
(b) The art of map drawing
(c) The art of beautiful and stylised writing
(d) The art of sketching

16. ‘Edo’ was the earlier name of which of the following places?
(a) Shanghai
(b) Tokyo
(c) Seoul
(d) Hongkong

17. Vellum refers to
(a) parchment made from the skin of animals.
(b) written material made from the bark of trees.
(c) paper made out of the pulp.
(d) written material made from cloth.

18. Who was Marcopolo ?
(a) German scientist
(b) English philosopher
(c) Spanish explorer
(d) Italian traveller/explorer

19. Which of the following inspired Gutenberg to design and model a printing press?
(a) Woodblock printing of China
(b) Olive press in agricultural estates
(c) Handwritten manuscripts
(d) Print technology of Japan

20 Martin Luther’s writings and ideas led to which of the following movements?
(a) Counter-Reformation Movement
(b) Renaissance Movement
(c) Reformation Movement
(d) Intellectual Movement

21. The reformation movement was launched against the corrupt practices of which of the following group?
(a) Feudal Lords
(b) Protestant Church
(c) Catholic Church
(d) Absolute rulers

22. Which of the following refers to ‘inquisition’?
(a) Protestant tribunal to punish heretics
(b) Catholic court to try and punish the heretics
(c) The state judicial body for punishing the criminals
(d) All the above

23. Aim of the Protestant Reformation was to
(a) reform religion
(b) reform the Catholic church
(c) reform Jewish religion
(d) to protest against all reform

24. Erasmus was a
(a) Latin scholar and Catholic reformer
(b) French scholar who advocated Protestantism
(c) Swedish scholar who translated the Bible
(d) British scholar who opposed Catholic Church

25. What were chapbooks?
(a) Books which were cheap
(b) The pocket-size books sold by travelling peddler
(c) Book sold on the footpath
(d) Handwritten books

26. An alamnac refers to
(a) a ritual calendar
(b) a dictionary
(c) a religious book
(d) a long poem

27. In France what was known as ‘Biliotheque Bleue’?
(a) A blue coloured book
(b) A blue coloured, cheap book made out of poor quality paper
(c) A book made of excellent blue silk for rich people
(d) A blue coloured writing pad

28. Which 18th-century French novelist declared, ‘The printing press is the most powerful engine of progress’ ?
(a) Rousseau
(b) Voltaire
(c) Mercier
(d) Montesquieh

29. The print culture created a condition for which of the following revolutions?
(a) French Revolution
(b) Russian Revolution
(c) Glorious Revolution
(d) American Revolution

30. Penny magazine was meant only for
(a) old people
(b) poor people
(c) women
(d) children

31. The scribes refer to
(a) Authors
(b) Poets
(c) Skilled hand writers
(d) Skilled painters

32. Which of the following refers to print revolution?
(a) Invention of the printing press
(b) Shift from hand printing to mechanical printing
(c) Revolt of people against printed matters
(d) Handwritten manuscripts for printed books

33. Mark the correct response. Due to the invention of printing press
(a) reading culture developed
(b) cost of books was reduced
(c) the time and labour required to produce books came down
(d) all the above

34. Richard M. Hoe of New York was well known for
(a) inventing the printing press
(b) perfecting the power-driven cylindrical press
(c) for inventing woodblock printing
(d) for inventing the electrical typing machine.

35. Why was James Augustus Hickey persecuted by Governor-General Warren Hastings?
(a) For poor editing of Bengal Gazette
(b) For publishing a lot of gossip about the company’s Senior Official
(c) For writing propaganda material against the Indian
(d) For publishing sub-standard material

36. With what purpose was the Vernacular Press Act passed by Lord Lyton in 1878?
(a) To popularise Vernacular Press
(b) To supervise Vernacular Press
(c) To clamp down and censor the native press
(d) To encourage authors to write in Indian languages.

37. Why was the Vernacular Act of 1878 opposed by the Indians ?
(a) It did not allow the Indian authors to write in their newspapers.
(b) It challenged the freedom of press of the Indians.
(c) It encouraged the Indians to publish religious materials in the newspapers.
(d) To defy colonialism.

38. How did nationalist newspapers inspire nationalism in India? Mark the most appropriate answer.
(a) By writing various articles in the newspapers.
(b) By publishing the speeches of nationalist leaders.
(c) By reporting the colonialism is the rule and encouraging nationalist activities through the press.
(d) By encouraging Indian authors.

ANSWERS


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