Important Question of Print Culture and the Modern World: Chapter 5 of Class 10 Social Science History, Print Culture and the Modern World, explores how the invention of the printing press changed society in pre-independent India. It explores the spread of ideas, knowledge, and awareness among the public, leading to major political modifications.
The chapter Print Culture and the Modern World highlights the role of newspapers, books, and magazines in reforming political and social views and influencing the freedom struggle of India against colonial rule.
Meanwhile, the Print Culture and the Modern World chapter discusses the role of printing culture in the development of education in India and the empowerment of different sections of society. Solving the Important Questions Class 10 history Chapter 5, Print Culture and the Modern World important questions will help students understand key concepts, historical events, and their impact on the modern world.
Chapter 5 Print Culture and the Modern World Important Questions and Answers
Print Culture and the Modern World Important Questions help students understand how printing shaped knowledge, society, and global communication. These important questions make exam preparation easier by highlighting key concepts and scoring topics from the chapter.
1. The term ‘Calligraphy’ means:
(A) The art of beautiful printing
(B) The art of beautiful and stylised writing
(C) The art of beautiful hand printing
(D) The art of printing an ‘accordion book’
Ans. (B) The art of beautiful and stylised writing
2. Which religious reformer was responsible for the Protestant Reformation?
(A) Martin Luther
(B) George Elliot
(C) Maxim Gorky
(D) John Calvin
Ans. (A) Martin Luther
3. Who started to edit the Bengal Gazette weekly in 1780.
(A) James Augustus Hickey
(B) Richard M Hoe
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) None of the above
Ans. (A) James Augustus Hickey
4. The production of manuscripts became possible in Europe because :
(A) The Europeans discovered paper
(B) Just like silk and spices, paper reached Europe via the Arab world
(C) Chinese paper reached Europe in the 11th century via the silk route, like silk and spices
(D) All the above
Ans. (C) Chinese paper reached Europe in the 11th century via the silk route, like silk and spices
5. The term ‘Compositor’ means:
(A) A person who composes poems
(B) A person who composes lyrics and songs for a play
(C) A person who composes music
(D) A person who composes the text for printing
Ans. (D) A person who composes the text for printing
6. Print culture, according to many historians, made people critical and rational because :
(A) Enlightened thinkers argued for the rule of reason rather than custom, judging everything with reasons
(B) The thinkers attacked sacred authority of the Church and despotism of the State
(C) People who read the ideas of Voltaire and Rousseau saw the world through different eyes
(D) All of these
Ans. (D) All of these
7. The first weekly paper published in India was
(A) Bombay Samachar
(B) Bengal Gazette
(C) Shamsul Akbar
(D) Samachar Chandika
Ans. (B) Bengal Gazette
8. As Western powers established their outposts in China, _______ became the hub of the new print culture.
(A) Shanghai
(B) Beijing
(C) Guangzhou
(D) Hong Kong
Ans. (A) Shanghai
9. Which of the following statements about Manuscripts are true?
(A) It was easy to read from Manuscripts.
(B) It was easy to carry around the Manuscripts.
(C) Manuscripts were not fragile.
(D) All of the above statements are false.
Ans. (D) All of the above statements are false.
10. The book, ‘Chote Aur Bade Ka Sawal’ talked about
(A) the link between caste and class exploitation
(B) the injustices of the caste system
(C) restrictions on the vernacular press
(D) ill treatment of widows
Ans. (A) the link between caste and class exploitation
Section-B [2 Marks]
11. What was print revolution?
Ans. It was a revolution which not only reduced the cost of production of books but also changed their relationship with information and knowledge. It influenced popular perceptions and people started looking at the world in a different way.
12. When and by whom was hand printing technology introduced in Japan?
Ans. Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand printing technology inter Japan around AD 768-770
13. How had the earliest printing technology developed in the world? Explain with examples.
Ans.
(i) The earliest kind of print technology was developed in China, Japan and Korea which was a system of hand printing.
(ii) Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand-printing technology into Japan.
(iii) It was Marco Polo, a great explorer who brought printing knowledge of woodblock from China to Italy.
14. What was the basic objective of Ninety Five Theses?
Ans. The basic objective of the Ninety Five Theses was to criticise many of the practice; and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church at that point of time.
15. When did the first printing press come to India?
Ans. The printing press first came to Goa with Portuguese missionaries in the mid-16th century
Section-C [3 Marks]
16. In what three ways did the printed books at first closely resemble the written manuscripts?
Ans. The printed books closely resembled the written manuscripts in the following ways.
• Both printed books and manuscripts looked similar because metal letters imitated the ornamental handwritten style.
• Like written manuscripts, printed books often left space for illuminations and decorations to be added by hand, but this practice was less common in printed books compared to manuscripts.
• Both in written manuscripts and printed books, space for decoration were kept blank so that the buyer could choose their designs.
17. Explain the reasons favoring shift from hand printing to mechanical printing in China.
Ans.
(i) Textbooks of Civil Service Examination were printed in vast numbers under the sponsorship of the imperial state.
(ii) From the sixteenth century, the number of examination candidates went up and that increased the volume of print.
(iii) By the seventeenth century, as urban culture bloomed in China, the uses of print diversified. Print was no longer used just by scholar-officials but also by merchants used print in their everyday life.
18. Describe the progress of print in Japan.
Ans.
(i) Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand-printing technology into Japan around AD 768-770. The oldest Japanese book is the Buddhist Diamond Sutra. Pictures were printed on textiles, playing cards and paper money.
(ii) In medieval Japan, poets and prose writers were regularly published, and books were cheap and abundant.
(iii) Printing of visual material led to interesting publishing practices. In the late eighteenth century, in the flourishing urban circles at Edo (later to be known as Tokyo), illustrated collections of paintings depicted an elegant urban culture, involving artists, courtesans, and tea house gatherings.
The progress of print in Japan reflects its evolution from the introduction of printing technology to the diversification of print content and the modernization of printing presses. Print culture has played a vital role in shaping Japanese society, facilitating communication, education, and the dissemination of ideas and culture throughout its history.
19. What was Protestant Reformation?
Ans.
• Protestant Reformation was a movement dedicated to reform the Roman Catholic Church in the sixteenth century. Martin Luther was its chief preacher.
• He wrote Ninety Five Theses criticizing many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church in 1517 in which he challenged the Church to debate his ideas.
• This led to division of church and beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
20. Who was Marco Polo? What was his contribution to print culture?
Ans. Marco Polo was a great Italian explorer.
His contributions:
(i) Marco Polo's contribution to print culture lies in his role in introducing the concept of printing with movable type to Europe. During his travels in China, Polo encountered the use of woodblock printing, a technique where texts and images are carved into wooden blocks and then printed onto paper or other materials.
(ii) In 1295. Marco Polo returned to Italy after many years of exploration in China.
(iii) Now in Italy, books started to be produced with woodblocks and soon the technology spread to other parts of Europe
Section-D [5 Marks]
21. How did print culture develop in Europe Explain?
Or
How did print come to Europe from China Explain.
Ans.
• 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.
• Role of travelers 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 of Europe, as well.
• Woodblock printing: By the early fifteenth century, woodblocks started being widely used in Europe to print textiles, playing cards and religious pictures with simple, brief texts.
• Johann Gutenberg and the printing press : A major revolution in 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.
• 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.
22. Who was Johann Gutenberg? Explain his role in the history of printing?
Or
Who invented the printing press? How did he develop the print technology?
Ans. Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor who is credited with inventing the printing press. His role in the history of printing was revolutionary as his invention transformed the way information was disseminated and contributed significantly to the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance period.
Gutenberg's printing press utilized movable type, allowing for the efficient and cost-effective reproduction of texts. Prior to his invention, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them rare and expensive. With the printing press, books could be produced at a much faster rate, making them more accessible to a larger audience.
Gutenberg's development of print technology involved several key innovations, including the creation of durable metal type, an oil-based ink suitable for printing, and a wooden press capable of exerting even pressure on the paper. These advancements laid the foundation for modern printing techniques and played a crucial role in the proliferation of literature, science, and ideas throughout Europe and beyond.
23. 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. Religious reforms that took place in Europe were as follows.
• Martin Luther wrote Ninety Five Theses criticizing the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. These were reproduced in large numbers and read by a large number of people.
• This led to the division within the church into Catholics and Protestants.
• This print brought about a new intellectual atmosphere, which helped in the spread of new ideas. This also paved the way for the reformation in the practices of the church.
• The message in the Bible began to be reinterpreted.
• Print encouraged people to think reasonably and question the customs followed in the Church, which enraged the Roman Catholics.
24. ‘Printing press played a major role in shaping the Indian society of the 19th century.’ Explain by giving examples.
Or
Explain the role of the press in shaping Indian society in the 19th century.
Ans. The printing press played a pivotal role in shaping Indian society during the 19th century, bringing about significant changes in various aspects of life. Here's an explanation with examples:
• Spread of Education: The printing press facilitated the mass production of textbooks and educational materials, making them more accessible to a wider audience. This led to an increase in literacy rates as more people gained access to printed materials in their native languages.
• Promotion of Social Reform Movements: The printing press served as a powerful tool for social reformers to disseminate their ideas and propagate their messages. Reform movements such as the Brahma Samaj, Arya Samaj, and Prarthana Samaj utilized printed materials to challenge social norms and advocate for reforms in areas such as caste discrimination, women's rights, and widow remarriage. Newspapers and pamphlets became platforms for raising awareness and mobilizing public opinion in favor of social change.
• Political Awakening and Nationalism: The printing press played a significant role in fostering political consciousness and nationalist sentiments among Indians. Newspapers like "The Bengal Gazette," "The Hindu," and "Amrita Bazar Patrika" provided platforms for intellectuals and leaders to discuss political issues, criticize colonial policies, and advocate for Indian rights. Print media played a crucial role in uniting diverse communities and regions under the banner of nationalism, laying the groundwork for the Indian independence movement.
• Cultural Renaissance: The printing press contributed to a cultural renaissance by preserving and promoting indigenous languages, literature, and traditions. Printing enabled the publication of literary works, poetry, and religious texts in regional languages, enriching cultural heritage and fostering a sense of pride among Indians in their linguistic and literary traditions. For example, the publication of literary magazines and journals in languages like Bengali, Hindi, and Tamil contributed to the flowering of regional literatures and cultural identities.
In essence, the printing press revolutionized communication and knowledge dissemination in 19th-century India, catalyzing social, cultural, and political transformations that laid the groundwork for the modern Indian society we see today.
25. Explain the impact of print culture on Indian women.
Or
Explain any three impacts of printed books on women in India in the nineteenth century.
Ans. Print culture had significant impacts on Indian women in the nineteenth century:
• Education and Literacy: The availability of printed books facilitated education and literacy among Indian women. Prior to the advent of print culture, education for women was limited and largely oral. With printed materials becoming more accessible, women had the opportunity to learn to read and write, thereby expanding their knowledge and understanding of the world.
• Women writers: In East Bengal, in the early nineteenth century, Rashsundari Debi, a young married girl wrote her autobiography, ‘Amar Jiban’ (means ‘my life’) which was published in 1876.
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. In the 1880s, in the present-day Maharashtra, Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai wrote with passionate anger about the miserable lives of the upper-caste Hindu women, especially the widows. The poor status of women was also expressed by the Tamil writers.
• Hindu writing and women: While Urdu, Tamil, Bengali and Marathi print culture had developed earlier, Hindu printing began seriously only from the 1870s. Soon, a large section of it was devoted to the education of women.
• New journals: In the early 20th century, the journals written by women became very popular in which women’s education, widowhood, widow remarriage, etc., were discussed. Some of them offered fashion lessons for women.