Get here NCERT solutions to textbook exercises of the chapter ‘Print Culture and the Modern World’ from Class 10 NCERT History textbook.
NCERT Q&A: Print Culture and the Modern World
Solutions to questions given in the textbook at the end of the chapter “Print Culture and the Modern World’.
Write in Brief:
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.
Answers:
a) Woodblock print only came to Europe after 1295.
- Marco Polo, an Italian traveler, brought the knowledge of woodblock printing from China.
- Before that, Europeans did not know about this technique.
- It spread gradually and became common in book production.
b) Martin Luther was in favour of print and spoke out in praise of it.
- Printing helped spread his ideas quickly.
- He used print to challenge the Catholic Church’s authority.
- His translated Bible allowed people to read religious texts themselves.
c) The Roman Catholic Church began keeping an Index of Prohibited Books from the mid-sixteenth century.
- The Church feared that print would spread ideas that questioned its teachings.
- The Index of Prohibited Books listed texts considered dangerous to Church authority.
- It aimed to control what people could read.
d) Gandhi said the fight for Swaraj is a fight for liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and freedom of association.
- He believed freedom of expression was key to self-rule (Swaraj).
- The British censored nationalist newspapers, limiting free speech.
- Gandhi saw the press as a powerful tool to awaken and unite Indians.
2. Write short notes to show what you know about:
a) The Gutenberg Press
b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book
c) The Vernacular Press Act
Answers:
a) The Gutenberg Press
- Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century.
- Used movable metal type, making book production faster and cheaper.
- Helped spread literacy, ideas, and religious reforms in Europe.
b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book
- Erasmus, a scholar, feared books would spread misinformation.
- He believed many uneducated people were printing poor-quality books.
- Though he supported knowledge, he criticized careless printing.
c) The Vernacular Press Act
- Passed in 1878 by the British to control Indian-language newspapers.
- Allowed the government to censor and seize any press printing anti-British content.
- Aimed to suppress nationalist ideas but faced strong protests.
3. What did the spread of print culture in nineteenth-century India mean to:
a) Women
b) The poor
c) Reformers
Answers:
a) Women
- Women’s literacy increased, and they began writing and reading more.
- Reformers and magazines promoted female education.
- Some women, like Rashsundari Debi, secretly learned to read and wrote about their struggles.
b) The poor
- Cheap books and public libraries helped the poor access knowledge.
- Workers and lower-caste leaders wrote about social injustice (e.g., Jyotiba Phule).
- Newspapers and pamphlets spread awareness about rights and social change.
c) Reformers
- Reformers used print to spread ideas about social change (e.g., widow remarriage, caste discrimination).
- Newspapers and pamphlets challenged orthodoxy and colonial rule.
- Helped build a nationalist movement against British rule.
Discuss
1. Why did some people in eighteenth-century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?
Ans. Many European thinkers believed that print culture would spread knowledge, reason, and new ideas, leading to social progress and freedom. Books and newspapers helped people question traditional authority, including monarchs and the Church. Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau used print to criticize unjust laws and promote liberty and equality. As literacy grew, people could discuss politics, increasing public awareness and participation. This encouraged democratic ideas, which later played a role in revolutions like the French Revolution (1789), where people overthrew the monarchy and demanded rights.
Answer in Points:
- Print culture spread new ideas about democracy, equality, and freedom.
- Thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau used print to challenge monarchy and religious control.
- It encouraged critical thinking and debate among people.
- Books, newspapers, and pamphlets helped in spreading revolutionary ideas.
- The French Revolution (1789) was influenced by printed literature that criticized despotism.
2. Why did some people fear the effect of easily available printed books?
Some feared printed books would spread rebellious ideas and challenge authority. In Europe, the Catholic Church controlled book printing, fearing that people reading the Bible in their own languages would weaken its influence. The Church even maintained an Index of Prohibited Books. In India, conservative Hindus and Muslims worried that printed material would corrupt society. For example, some Hindus believed that educating women through books would make them widows, while some Muslims feared that Urdu romances would corrupt women’s morals. Authorities also censored nationalist writings to prevent opposition against British rule.
Answer in Points:
Europe:
- The Catholic Church feared that printing the Bible in local languages would reduce its control.
- The Church maintained an Index of Prohibited Books to restrict “dangerous” ideas.
- Kings and rulers feared that print could spread rebellion against monarchy.
India:
- Conservative Hindus feared that educating women through books would make them widows.
- Muslims worried that Urdu novels and stories would corrupt women’s morals.
- The British government imposed censorship to suppress nationalist writings.
3. What were the effects of the spread of print culture for poor people in nineteenth-century India?
Print culture helped the poor access knowledge and social awareness. Cheap books, newspapers, and public libraries allowed them to read about rights and social justice. Jyotiba Phule wrote about caste discrimination in Gulamgiri (1871), and later, B.R. Ambedkar challenged caste oppression through his writings. Workers also started forming libraries and reading groups, as seen among Bangalore and Bombay mill workers. Kanpur mill worker Kashibaba wrote Chhote Aur Bade Ka Sawal (1938), linking caste and class struggles. These writings gave the poor a voice, encouraged social reform, and helped in the nationalist movement.
Answer in Points:
- Cheap books and pamphlets made education more accessible to the poor.
- Public libraries were set up in cities and villages for people to read.
- Jyotiba Phule wrote about caste discrimination in Gulamgiri (1871).
- B.R. Ambedkar and E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) wrote about caste oppression and social justice.
- Workers in factories set up libraries to educate themselves and understand their rights.
- Kanpur mill worker Kashibaba wrote Chhote Aur Bade Ka Sawal (1938) on caste and class struggles.
4. Explain how print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India.
Print culture helped spread nationalist ideas and unite Indians against British rule. Newspapers like Kesari (by Bal Gangadhar Tilak) and Hind Swaraj (by Gandhi) criticized British policies and mobilized the masses. Books and pamphlets educated people about freedom, self-rule, and colonial exploitation. Vernacular newspapers connected different regions, creating a shared national identity. When the British passed the Vernacular Press Act (1878) to censor anti-colonial writings, it led to protests, further strengthening nationalism. The press also helped spread ideas of Swadeshi (boycotting British goods) and self-reliance, playing a major role in India’s independence struggle.
Answer in Points:
- Newspapers and books spread awareness about British exploitation.
- Vernacular newspapers like Kesari (by Bal Gangadhar Tilak) criticized British rule.
- Nationalist leaders like Gandhi used print to spread ideas of Swaraj and Swadeshi.
- Pamphlets and tracts encouraged people to join freedom movements.
- The Vernacular Press Act (1878) imposed censorship, leading to protests against British rule.
- Printed materials united people from different regions, creating a common national identity.
- Print culture played a major role in the Indian independence movement.
