Class 10 Social Science Chapter 5 Print Culture & the

Q1. Who among the following published "Samvad Kaumudi"? [CBSE 2024] [1] (a) Rashsundari Debi (b) Tarabai Shinde (c) Raja Rammohan Roy (d) Ram Chaddha

Ans: (c) Raja Rammohan Roy. He published the Bengali weekly newspaper Samvad Kaumudi in the early 19th century, advocating social reform.

Q2. Which aspect was common among the writings of Kailashbashini Debi, Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai? [CBSE 2023] [1] (a) Demanded economic equality for masses (b) Highlighted experiences of women (c) Raised awareness about cultural heritage (d) Motivated Indians for national freedom

Ans: (b) Highlighted experiences of women. All three writers focused on issues of women's rights, education, and social reform in 19th century India.

Q3. Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand printing technology into ______ around A.D. 768-770. [CBSE 2020] [1] (a) India (b) Japan (c) Korea (d) Europe

Ans: (b) Japan. Buddhist missionaries from China brought hand-printing technology to Japan, where the oldest printed book, the Diamond Sutra, was later produced.

Q4. Where did the development of print first begin? [CBSE 2022] [1] (a) East Asia (b) Europe (c) India (d) America

Ans: (a) East Asia. The earliest kind of print technology developed in China, Japan and Korea using woodblock printing technique.

Q5. Who said "Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one"? [CBSE 2021] [1] (a) Voltaire (b) Martin Luther (c) Johann Gutenberg (d) Erasmus

Ans: (b) Martin Luther. He praised the printing press for helping spread the Protestant Reformation ideas widely and quickly.

Q6. Who wrote "Gulamgiri"? [CBSE 2020] [1] (a) B.R. Ambedkar (b) Jyotiba Phule (c) Periyar (d) Raja Rammohan Roy

Ans: (b) Jyotiba Phule. He wrote Gulamgiri (1873), drawing parallels between the conditions of lower castes in India and Black slaves in America.

Q7. Which of the following was the first newspaper published in India? [CBSE 2023] [1] (a) Bengal Gazette (b) Samvad Kaumudi (c) Bombay Samachar (d) Kesari

Ans: (a) Bengal Gazette. James Augustus Hickey started Bengal Gazette in 1780, India's first newspaper, from Calcutta.

Q8. The Vernacular Press Act was passed in the year: [CBSE 2022] [1] (a) 1857 (b) 1878 (c) 1905 (d) 1919

Ans: (b) 1878. The Vernacular Press Act gave the British government extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in Indian language newspapers.

Q9. Who invented the first printing press with moveable type in Europe? [CBSE 2021] [1] (a) Marco Polo (b) Johann Gutenberg (c) Martin Luther (d) Richard Hoe UNIQUE STUDY POINT BY SUMEET SAHU | Amitesh Nagar, Indore (M.P.) | www.uniquestudyonline.com Page 1 UNIQUE STUDY POINT BY SUMEET SAHU Class X | Social Science | History Ch.5

Ans: (b) Johann Gutenberg. Around 1440s, Gutenberg developed the printing press with moveable metal type, revolutionising book production in Europe.

Q10. What were "Chapbooks"? [CBSE 2020] [1] (a) Books sold in churches (b) Pocket-size books sold by travelling pedlars (c) Government-published textbooks (d) Religious manuscripts

Ans: (b) Pocket-size books sold by travelling pedlars called "chapmen". These became very popular from the 16th century print revolution onward.

Q16. Explain the role of print culture in creating conditions for the French Revolution. [CBSE 2024]

Ans: Print culture significantly contributed to the French Revolution: UNIQUE STUDY POINT BY SUMEET SAHU | Amitesh Nagar, Indore (M.P.) | www.uniquestudyonline.com Page 2 UNIQUE STUDY POINT BY SUMEET SAHU Class X | Social Science | History Ch.5 • Spread of Enlightenment: The writings of Voltaire and Rousseau criticised monarchy, superstition, and the Church. Print made these ideas accessible to common people. • Culture of Dialogue: Print created a new culture of dialogue and debate. People discussed and debated social and political issues openly in salons and coffee houses. • Cartoons & Satire: Cartoons and caricatures mocking the royalty and Church were widely circulated, eroding the authority of the old order. • Public Opinion: For the first time, literature and newspapers created a sense of "public opinion" - an informed and questioning citizenry that challenged absolute monarchy. • Revolutionary Ideas: Print did not directly cause the Revolution, but it created conditions by opening up possibilities for thinking differently about tradition and authority.

Q17. Trace the development of print technology from East Asia to Europe. [CBSE 2023]

Ans: Print technology evolved across centuries and continents: • China (6th century): Earliest print technology was woodblock printing. Books were printed by rubbing paper against inked wooden blocks. Imperial State was the major publisher. • Japan (AD 768-770): Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand-printing technology. The Diamond Sutra (AD 868) is the oldest known printed book. • China's Innovation: Around 1040s, Bi Sheng invented moveable type made of earthenware (clay). Wooden and metal types followed in China and Korea. • Europe - Gutenberg (1440s): Johann Gutenberg developed the printing press with moveable metal type. His Bible was the first major book printed, taking 3 years to produce 180 copies. • Print Revolution: By 1500, printing presses were set up in most European countries. Book production soared - approximately 20 million copies by 1500, transforming European society.

Q18. How did the coming of print culture change the lives of women and the poor in 19th century India? [CBSE 2022]

Ans: Print transformed the social landscape for marginalised groups: • Women Writers Emerged: Women like Rashsundari Debi, Kailashbashini Debi, and Tarabai Shinde wrote about women's experiences, demanding education and rights. • Women's Education: Liberal reformers promoted women's reading. Schools for women were established. However, conservatives feared educated women would abandon traditions. • Lower Caste Voices: Jyotiba Phule's "Gulamgiri" exposed caste oppression. B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar wrote extensively on Dalit rights using the print medium. • Workers' Literature: Factory workers and labourers gained access to printed materials about their rights, trade unions, and social justice movements. • Cheap Books: From the late 19th century, cheap printed editions flooded markets in India, making knowledge accessible to the poor for the first time in history.

Q19. Explain the impact of print on Indian society in the 19th century. [CBSE 2021]

Ans: Print had a transformative impact on Indian society: • Social Reform: Raja Rammohan Roy used print to campaign against sati and promote widow remarriage. Print became the primary tool for social reformers. • Religious Debate: Different religious groups used print to propagate their ideas. The ulama published cheap lithographic editions of holy texts in Urdu and Persian. • Nationalist Awakening: Newspapers like Kesari (Tilak), Amrita Bazar Patrika, and others spread nationalist ideas. Gandhi used Young India and Harijan for his campaigns. • Legal Restrictions: The British enacted the Vernacular Press Act (1878) to curb the growing influence of Indian language newspapers on public opinion. • Cultural Renaissance: Print enabled preservation and spread of Indian literature, folklore, and classical texts, sparking a cultural revival across regions.

Q20. "Print popularised the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers." Explain with examples. [CBSE 2020]

Ans: The Enlightenment ideas spread rapidly through print: • Voltaire & Rousseau: Their writings criticised the established social order. Print made their ideas available to a vast reading public across Europe. • Collective Reading: Ideas were discussed in coffee houses and salons. People read books aloud in groups, debating social and political issues freely. • Questioning Tradition: Print encouraged rational thinking and questioning of religious dogma, absolute monarchy, and social inequality. UNIQUE STUDY POINT BY SUMEET SAHU | Amitesh Nagar, Indore (M.P.) | www.uniquestudyonline.com Page 3 UNIQUE STUDY POINT BY SUMEET SAHU Class X | Social Science | History Ch.5 • Martin Luther: His 95 Theses challenging the Catholic Church were printed and distributed widely. Within weeks, thousands of copies reached people across Europe. • Democratic Ideas: Print helped spread ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity. These became the foundation of modern democratic thought and revolutions.