NCERT Solutions For Class 10 History Social Science Chapter 5 : Print Culture and the Modern World

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 5 – Print Culture and the Modern World PDF

Get here free NCERT solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 5 – Print Culture and the Modern World. Find here the best solutions for 2020-2021. Link to download all the solutions is also provided here.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 5

NCERT solutions for 10 Social Science History Chapter 5 – Print Culture and the Modern World are provided here. Download these NCERT solutions in PDF. These NCERT solutions are best for a thorough understanding and active learning of facts and events. Students must read the NCERT Book and NCERT Solutions for obtaining the best results in the CBSE Class 10 Social Science Board Exam 2021. In CBSE exams, all the questions are usually based on the NCERT book only. So, practice the NCERT questions and take the help of the NCERT solutions provided below for the best answers.

NCERT Solutions Class 10

Social Science – History

Chapter 5: 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.

Answer:

(a) Woodblock print was invented in China around the sixth century. It came to Europe in 1295 when Marco Polo, an Italian explorer, returned to Italy after many years of exploration in China. He brought with him the technology of woodblock printing.

(b)  Martin Luther was a great religious reformer of Germany. In 1517, he wrote 95 theses that criticised the corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Very soon, thousands of copies of Luther’s writings were printed and read widely. He was deeply moved by realising the power of printing and was grateful to it. He considered print as the ultimate gift of God. This led to the beginning of the reformation movement. This is the reason why Luther was in favour of print and spoke out in praise of it.

(c) Print and popular literature encouraged many distinctive interpretations of religious faiths. Manocchio, a miller in Italy, began to read the books that were available in his locality. He gave a new interpretation of the Bible and formulated a view of God. Due to this, the Roman Catholic Church had to face many dissents from mid-16th century onwards. Therefore, the church banned such books and decided to maintain an Index of the prohibited books.

(d) According to Mahatma Gandhi, the liberty of speech, liberty of press and freedom of association were three most powerful weapons of expressing and cultivating public opinion. No nation can survive without these three prerequisites. If a country wants to get freedom from foreign domination then these three liberties are very important.

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

Answer:

(a) The Gutenberg Press: It was the first printing press that was developed by Johan Gutenberg. He spent his childhood in a large agricultural estate and had good experience in operating olive and wine presses. By 1448, he developed a modified version of olive and wine presses. With this new printing press, the first book he printed was Bible. This press had a long handle attached to the screw. The screw was turned with help of the handle which in turn pressed down the platen over the printing block that was placed on the top of a sheet of damp paper. The lead moulds were used for casting the metal types for the letters of alphabet.

(b) Erasmus’s idea of printed book: Erasmus was the Latin scholar and a Catholic reformer. He criticized the printing of books because he was afraid that this would lead to the circulation of books that were full of rebellious ideas. He thought that majority of the books were irrelevant and illogical which would only spread the scandalous and irreligious ideas. According to him, with such books coming in large numbers, the significance of valuable literature would be lost.

(c) The Vernacular Press Act: This act was passed in 1878 by the British government in India. This act gave the government with tyrannical rights to censor reports and editorials in the Vernacular Press.  If a Vernacular Paper published any seditious report and the newspaper ignored the initial warning, then the press was seized and the printing machinery confiscated.

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

Answer:

(a) Women: With the spread of print culture in nineteenth century India, the Indian women became as important as readers and writers. This increased the literacy among women. Many journals started emphasizing the importance of women’s education. Many books and magazines were especially published in the interest of women. Some literate women started writing books and their autobiographies. From the 1860s, many Bengali women writers like Kailashbashini Debi wrote books that highlighted the miserable condition of majority of women in India where they were imprisoned at home, kept in ignorance, forced to do hard domestic labour and treated unjustly by the males they served. Thus, the print culture gave women some amount of freedom to read and develop their own views on various issues related to women.

(b) The poor people: In the 19th century, many publishers started producing cheap books which weres were sold at crossroads. This increased the readership among the poor people. Public libraries were also set up which increased the access to the books. Now, everyone was able to gain knowledge. Encouraged and inspired by the social reformers, the people like factory workers also started setting up their libraries. Some of them also wrote books highlighting the issue of class distinction. In 1938, Kashibaba, a Kanpur mill worker wrote and published ‘Chote aur Bade Ka Sawal’ to depict the links between caste and class exploitation.

(c) Reformers: Indian reformers used newspapers, journals and books to highlight the unethical issues and the social evils prevailing in the society.

  • Raja Ram Mohan Roy published the Sambad Kaumudi to highlight the plight of widows.
  • 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 of the family.
  • In the 1880s, Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai wrote about the miserable lives of the upper-caste Hindu women, especially the widows.
  • In 1871, Jyotiba Phule wrote about the poor condition of the low caste people. In the 20th century, BR Ambedkar also wrote powerfully against the caste system.
  • EV Ramaswamy Naicker, also known as Periyar, wrote about the caste system prevailing in Madras.

Discuss

1. Why did some people in 18th century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism?

Answer: Many people in the 18th century Europe thought that the print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism because of the following reasons:

  • It would help in spreading of literacy and knowledge among all class of people.
  • The ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common people.
  • The writings of thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau were widely printed, and could gain popularity. With this, their ideas about science, reasoning and rationality became a part of popular literature.
  • Social reformers like Louise, Sebastian Mercier, and Martin Luther were also of opinion that the print culture is the most powerful engine of progress that would bring enlightenment and an end to despotism.

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

Answer: Some people especially from upper class and powerful class feared the effect of easily available printed books as:

  • They were afraid of the spread of literacy among the common people which would lower their position or authorities.
  • Some people thought that this may lead to the spread of rebellions and irreligious thoughts.

Examples from Europe and India are:

(i) In Europe, the Roman Catholic Church tried to curb the printed books through the Index of Prohibited Books.

(ii) In India, the Vernacular Press Act imposed restrictions on Indian press and various local newspapers.

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

Answer: The effects of the spread of print culture for poor people in nineteenth century India were:

  • The poor people were benefited from the spread of print culture as they got access to the low-price books.
  • Many social reformers wrote books and essays enlightening the caste discrimination prevailing in the country. These were read by people across the country.
  • In 1871, Jyotiba Phule wrote about the poor condition of the low caste people. In the 20th century, BR Ambedkar also wrote powerfully against the caste system.
  • EV Ramaswamy Naicker, also known as Periyar, wrote about the caste system prevailing in Madras.
  • The poor now became more aware of their rights and their place in society. 

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

Answer: The print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India in the following ways:

  • Books, magazines and newspapers helped in the spread of new ideas. They also shaped the nature of debate that assisted the growth of nationalism.
  • Gandhiji spread his ideas of Swadeshi in a powerful way through newspaper.
  • Many vernacular newspapers reported oppressive methods of colonial rule and helped to spread the nationalism in India.
  • National leaders tried to mobilize public opinion of Indian masses through the national dailies to unite them for the cause of nationalism.
  • Printers like Raja Ravi Verma and Rabindranath Tagore produced images of Bharatmata which produced a sense of nationalism among Indians. The ever increasing devotion to mother figure could be seen as an evidence of people’s nationalism.
  • Print culture not only encouraged nationalist activities, but it also connected communities and people living in different parts of India.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 7 Print Culture and Modern World

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social History Chapter 7 Print Culture and the Modern World

Q.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 the liberty of speech, liberty of the press and freedom of association.
Ans. 
(b) Because it was the printing press which gave him a chance to criticise many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church.
(c) Print and popular literature encouraged many distinctive interpretations of religious faiths and ideas. In the 16th century, Manocchio, a miller 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 Church began its inquisition, and to repress the therapeutical ideas. After this several control measures were imposed on publishers and booksellers. In 1558, the Roman Church decided to maintain an Index of prohibited books.
(d) Mahatma Gandhi uttered these words in 1922 during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922). Because 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. If there is no liberty of speech, liberty of press and freedom of association, then there is no nationalism. Nationalism requires these three prerequisites for its survival. Mahatma Gandhi fully knew the fact. That is why, he said so, particularly about these three freedoms. How could one ever think of nationalism in the absence of these three essential conditions ?

 

Q.2. Write short notes to show that you know about:
(a) The Gutenberg Press.
(b) The Erasmus’s idea of the printed book.
(c) The Vernacular Press Act. [CBSE Sept. 2011, 2012]
Ans. 
(b) Erasmus’s idea of the printed book : Erasmus, a Latin scholar and a Catholic reformer, who criticised the excesses of Catholicism, but kept his distance from, Luther, expressed a deep anxiety about printing. He wrote in Adages (1508) :
‘To what corner of the world do they not fly, these swarms of new books ? It may be that one here and there contributes something worth knowing, but the very multitude of them is hurtful to scholarship, because it creates a glut and even in good things, satiety is most harmful… [printers] fill the world with books, not just trifling things (such as I write, perhaps), but stupid, ignorant, slanderous, scandalous, raving, irreligious and seditious books, and the number of them is such that even the valuable publications lose their value.’
(c) The Vernacular Press Act : The revolt of 1857 forced the government to curb the freedom of the press. After the revolt, enraged Englishmen demanded a clamp down on the ‘native’ press. As vernacular newspapers became assertively nationalist, the colonial government began debating measures of strict control.
In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was passed, on the model of Irish Press Laws. It provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the vernacular press. The government started keeping regular track of the vernacular newspapers published in different provinces. When a report was judged as seditious, the newspapers were given a warning and if the warning was ignored, the press was liable to be seized, and the printing machinery could be confiscated.

Q.3. What did the spread of print culture in the nineteenth century India mean to :
(a) Women
(b) The poor
(c) Reformers
Ans.
(c) (i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) Jyotiba Phule was a social reformer. He wrote about the poor condition of the ‘low caste’. In his book Gulamgiri (1871), he wrote about the injustices of the caste system.
In the 20th century, B.R. Ambedkar also wrote powerfully against the caste system. He also wrote against untouchability.
E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, also known as Periyar, too wrote about the caste system prevailing in Madras (Chennai).

Q.4. Write about the different innovations in the printing technology during the 19th century ? 
Ans. (i) By the mid-nineteenth century, Richard M. Hoe of New York had perfected the power-driven cylindrical press. This was capable of printing 8,000 sheets per hour. This press was particularly useful for printing newspapers.
(ii) In the late nineteenth century, the offset press was developed which could print up to six colours at a time.
(iii) From the turn of the twentieth century, electrically operated presses accelerated printing operations.

 

Q.5. Why did some people in the eighteenth century Europe think that print culture would bring enlightenment and end despotism ? 
Or
Assess the impact of print revolution on the European society. 
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 medium of progress: By the mid-18th century, books became a medium of spreading progress and enlightenment which could change the 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 recognised the need to question the existing ideas and beliefs.

Q.6. Why did some people fear the effect of the easily available printed books ? Choose one example from Europe and one from India. 
Or
Explain the role played by print in bringing about a division in the Roman Catholic Church. 
Or
Explain the role played by print in the spreading of Protestant Reformation. 
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 criticised by religious authorities, monarchs, as well as by writers and artists.
Let us consider the implication of this in one sphere of life in the early modern Europe, i.e., religion.
Martin Luther was a German monk, priest, professor and a 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.8. Explain how the print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India. 
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, Balgangadhar 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 an evidence of one’s nationalism.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. Who wrote about the injustices of the caste system in ‘Gulamgiri’? 
(a) Raja Rammohan Roy
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Balgangadhar 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? 
(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 wood block 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 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) Wood block printing of China
(b) Olive press in agricultural estates
(c) Hand written 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 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 was chapbooks ?
(a) Books which were cheap
(b) The pocket size books sold by travelling peddler
(c) Book sold on 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 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 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 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 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 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 writing 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 colonialm is rule and encouraging nationalist activities through press.
(d) By encouraging Indian authors.

ANSWERS

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