📋 Chapter at a Glance
| 📚 Subject | History (India and Contemporary World-II) |
| 🎓 Class | 10th (RBSE / CBSE) |
| 📖 Chapter | 5 - Print Culture and the Modern World |
| 📊 Board Weightage | 4-6 Marks (out of 20) |
| ⏰ Time Period | 8th Century - 20th Century |
| 📅 Exam Date | 17 February 2026 |
📚 Related Chapters (History)
← Chapter 1: Rise of Nationalism in Europe
← Chapter 2: Nationalism in India
📑 Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. First Printed Books
3. Print in China
4. Print in Japan
5. Print Comes to Europe
6. Gutenberg and His Press
7. The Print Revolution
8. Religious Debates & Fear of Print
9. Reading Mania in Europe
10. Print and the French Revolution
11. 19th Century Developments
12. Children, Women & Workers
13. Print in India
14. Religious Reform & Print
15. New Forms of Publication
16. Print and Censorship
17. Important Dates Timeline
18. Key Terms Glossary
19. MCQ Questions
20. Short Answer Questions
21. Long Answer Questions
22. Quick Revision
1. Introduction
The development of print marked a new chapter in the history of communication. Before printing, books were handwritten manuscripts which were expensive and rare. The invention of the printing press transformed the world by making books accessible to common people and spreading knowledge, ideas, and information rapidly.
This chapter traces the history of print from its origins in East Asia to its arrival in Europe and eventually India. We will see how print technology transformed societies, sparked religious reforms, political revolutions, and created new reading publics.
Figure 1: Evolution from handwriting to printing press
📘 Key Concept: What is Print Culture?
Print Culture refers to the practices and beliefs associated with the production, circulation, and reading of printed materials like books, newspapers, and pamphlets. It includes how printing technology transformed society, education, religion, and politics.
2. The First Printed Books
The earliest kind of print technology was developed in China, Japan, and Korea. This was a system of hand printing using wooden blocks.
How Block Printing Worked
Figure 2: Step-by-step process of woodblock printing
3. Print in China
China was the birthplace of printing technology. The Chinese were the first to develop techniques for mass-producing written materials.
Key Developments in China
| Period | Development |
|---|---|
| 594 AD | First printed books in China using woodblock printing |
| 868 AD | Diamond Sutra - oldest surviving printed book (Buddhist scripture) |
| 1040s AD | Bi Sheng invented movable type using clay |
| By 17th Century | Print diversified - textbooks for exams, fiction, poetry, autobiographies |
💡 Diamond Sutra (868 AD)
The Diamond Sutra is the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world. It was printed in China in 868 AD. It is a Buddhist sacred text that was printed using woodblock technology. The book is currently preserved in the British Library, London.
What Was Printed in China?
• Buddhist scriptures translated from Sanskrit
• Textbooks for civil service examinations
• Calendars for daily life
• Fiction, poetry, and romantic plays (from 17th century)
• Trade information for merchants
📘 Bi Sheng's Movable Type (1040s)
Bi Sheng was a Chinese artisan who invented the first known movable type system around 1040 AD. He made individual characters from baked clay, which could be arranged to form any text and reused. However, it was not widely used in China because Chinese script has thousands of characters, making movable type impractical.
4. Print in Japan
Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand-printing technology to Japan around 768-770 AD. Print technology was soon adopted by the Japanese.
Key Points about Print in Japan
• 768-770 AD: Buddhist missionaries brought printing from China
• Oldest Japanese book printed in 868 AD
• Edo period (1603-1867): Print culture flourished
• Kitagawa Utamaro - famous Japanese artist known for Ukiyo prints
• Ukiyo (meaning "pictures of the floating world") showed urban culture
🎨 Ukiyo Prints
Ukiyo prints were a form of Japanese art that depicted urban life, including pictures of artists, courtesans, and tea houses. Libraries and bookstores were packed with these prints. Kitagawa Utamaro was one of the most famous artists of this style.
5. Print Comes to Europe
For a long time in Europe, books were copied by hand, mainly by scribes in monasteries. The production of handwritten manuscripts was expensive and time-consuming.
Before the Printing Press
• Books were hand-copied by scribes
• Mainly produced in monasteries
• Written in Latin (language of the educated elite)
• Books were expensive and rare
• Only wealthy people and clergy could afford books
How Did Print Technology Reach Europe?
Figure 3: Spread of print technology from China to Europe via trade routes
• Silk Route connected China with Europe through trade
• Marco Polo (Italian explorer) returned from China in 1295 with knowledge of printing
• Knowledge of woodblock printing spread to Europe
• By 1295, Marco Polo brought this knowledge to Italy
6. Gutenberg and the Printing Press
Johann Gutenberg of Strasbourg, Germany developed the first known printing press in the 1430s. This invention revolutionized the production of books and changed the world forever.
Figure 4: Gutenberg's Printing Press - Revolutionary invention of the 15th century
Gutenberg's Key Innovations
| Innovation | Description | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Movable Type | Individual letters made of metal (lead alloy) | Durable, reusable, uniform letters |
| Oil-based Ink | New formula that adhered to metal type | Better quality, darker prints |
| Wooden Screw Press | Adapted from olive and wine presses | Even pressure, fast printing |
| Type Mould | Device to cast identical letters | Mass production of letters |
⚠️ Exam Important: Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg Bible (1455):
• First major book printed using movable metal type
• Also called the "42-line Bible" (42 lines per page)
• About 180 copies were printed
• Only 48 copies survive today
• Marks the beginning of the "Gutenberg Revolution"
7. The Print Revolution
The printing press brought about a revolution in the production of books. What earlier took months to produce could now be done in days. This is called the Print Revolution.
Figure 5: The multiple impacts of the Print Revolution on society
Key Effects of Print Revolution
• Cost of books reduced - Books became affordable for common people
• Time of production decreased - Mass production possible
• Books flooded the market - Reading public expanded
• New reading public emerged - Not just scholars and clergy
• Knowledge democratized - Ideas reached common people
📊 Statistics to Remember
• First 50 years (1450-1500): 20 million copies of printed books in Europe
• By 16th century: 200 million copies
• By 1500: Printing presses set up in most European countries
8. Religious Debates and the Fear of Print
Print created the possibility of spreading new and even dangerous ideas. Not everyone welcomed the printed book. Many were apprehensive of its effects.
Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation
💡 Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses (1517)
Martin Luther was a German monk who wrote Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, criticizing many practices of the Roman Catholic Church. His writings were quickly printed and circulated throughout Europe. Within weeks, his ideas had spread far and wide, sparking the Protestant Reformation. This showed the immense power of print to spread ideas and challenge established authorities.
Why Was Print Feared?
| Who Feared Print? | Why They Feared It |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church | Print spread Protestant ideas, challenged Church authority |
| Monarchs & Kings | Rebellious and heretical ideas could spread easily |
| Religious orthodoxy | Print could corrupt minds and destroy faith |
The Index of Prohibited Books
• 1558: Roman Church began maintaining an Index of Prohibited Books
• Books considered heretical or harmful were banned
• Publishers had to get Church approval before printing
• Despite this, rebellious ideas continued to spread through underground printing
9. The Reading Mania
Through the 17th and 18th centuries, literacy rates improved in most parts of Europe. Churches set up schools to educate peasants, and literacy spread among peasants and artisans.
New Forms of Reading Material
Figure 6: Different types of printed materials that became popular
Key Terms
• Chapbooks: Small, cheap books sold by travelling peddlers called Chapmen
• Almanacs: Annual publications containing calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical data
• Penny Chapbooks: Books sold for one penny - affordable for even the poor
• Bibliotheque Bleue: "Blue Library" - cheap, small-sized books printed on poor paper in France
Electrically operated pressesOther 19th Century Developments
• Methods to feed paper improved - automatic paper reels
• Quality of plates improved - better print quality
• Automatic paper reel and photo-electric controls developed
• Shilling series in Britain - cheap books for common readers
• Lending libraries became popular in Europe
12. Children, Women, and Workers
As literacy rates improved, publishers began targeting new categories of readers: children, women, and workers. This created new forms of literature.
Figure 8: New categories of readers that emerged in the 19th century
📚 Lending Libraries
From the 17th century, lending libraries became popular in England. People could borrow books for a small fee instead of buying them. This made reading accessible to those who could not afford to buy books. They became instruments of education for white-collar workers, artisans, and lower-middle class people.
13. India and the World of Print
India had a rich tradition of handwritten manuscripts long before print. But the printing press came to India with the Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century.
Manuscripts Before Print
• Written in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and various regional languages
• Written on palm leaves or hand-made paper
• Pages were beautifully illustrated
• Expensive and fragile - difficult to handle and preserve
• Could not be read easily as script was cramped and difficult
Print Comes to India - Timeline
Figure 9: Key milestones in the history of print in India
Key Figures in Indian Print History
| Person | Contribution | Year |
|---|---|---|
| James Augustus Hickey | Started first Indian newspaper Bengal Gazette | 1780 |
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | Started Sambad Kaumudi newspaper | 1821 |
| Gangadhar Bhattacharya | Started Bengal Gazette (Bengali weekly) | 1818 |
| Jyotiba Phule | Wrote about caste discrimination - Gulamgiri | 1871 |
| B.R. Ambedkar | Wrote about caste injustice - Mooknayak newspaper | 1920 |
14. Religious Reform and Public Debates
From the early 19th century, there were intense debates around religious issues. Print played a crucial role in spreading ideas and facilitating discussions on social and religious reforms.
Print and Social Reform
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy published against sati, child marriage, and idol worship
• Tracts and newspapers spread ideas of reform
• Both reformers and orthodox Hindus used print to spread their views
• Debates on widow remarriage conducted through print
• Religious texts printed in vernacular languages for common people
🌟 Print and Multiple Voices
A notable feature of the print revolution in India was the variety of voices it enabled. Not just the educated elite, but also people from lower castes like Jyotiba Phule and later B.R. Ambedkar used print to expose caste injustice. Local protest movements and sects also used print to spread their ideas.
Print and Women
• Lives of women were written by both men and women
• Liberal husbands and fathers taught women to read
• Rashsundari Debi - wrote Amar Jiban (first autobiography in Bengali)
• Kailashbashini Debi - wrote about women's experiences
• Tarabai Shinde and Pandita Ramabai - wrote about oppression of women
📚 Amar Jiban (1876)
Rashsundari Debi (1810-1899) wrote her autobiography Amar Jiban (My Life) in 1876. It is the first full-length autobiography in Bengali. She secretly taught herself to read when women's education was not encouraged. Her story shows how women overcame obstacles to education.
15. New Forms of Publication
As literacy rates improved, new forms of writing emerged in India. Novels became very popular in various Indian languages.
Indian Novels and Literature
| Author | Work | Language | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bankim Chandra | Anandamath | Bengali | Contains "Vande Mataram" |
| Premchand | Godan, Seva Sadan | Hindi/Urdu | Showed poverty, caste issues |
| Chandu Menon | Indulekha | Malayalam | First Malayalam novel |
| Devaki Nandan Khatri | Chandrakanta | Hindi | Popular fantasy novel |
Other Forms of Publication
• Cheap small books (Battala publications) - sold at Battala market in Calcutta
• Religious tracts and scriptures in vernacular languages
• Pedlars (Hawkers) sold books door-to-door in villages
• Public libraries emerged in cities and towns
• Illustrated magazines and journals became popular
16. Print and Censorship
The colonial government became increasingly concerned about the growing influence of the press in India. Various measures were taken to control what could be printed.
Early Regulations
• Before 1798, colonial state had no control over press
• 1798: Governor-General Lord Wellesley imposed censorship rules
• Newspapers had to be pre-approved before publication
• 1835: Governor-General William Bentinck revoked these restrictions
Vernacular Press Act, 1878
⚠️ Exam Important: Vernacular Press Act (1878)
Passed by: Viceroy Lord Lytton
Provisions:
• Government could censor Indian language newspapers
• If a report was found "seditious", press could be confiscated
• Printing machinery could be seized
• Modelled on Irish Press Laws
Criticised as: "Gagging Act" - attempted to silence Indian press
Note: English newspapers were exempted - discrimination!
Figure 10: Effects of the Vernacular Press Act on Indian press
Nationalist Response to Censorship
• Nationalists protested against censorship laws
• Many newspapers continued publishing despite restrictions
• Some editors were arrested and jailed
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned for his writings in Kesari
• Press became a powerful symbol of nationalism
17. Important Dates Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 594 AD | First printed books in China (woodblock printing) |
| 868 AD | Diamond Sutra printed in China (oldest dated printed book) |
| 1040s AD | Bi Sheng invented movable type in China |
| 1295 | Marco Polo returned to Italy with knowledge of printing |
| 1430s | Gutenberg developed printing press in Germany |
| 1455 | Gutenberg Bible printed (first major printed book) |
| 1517 | Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses printed |
| 1556 | First printing press in India (Goa, by Portuguese) |
| 1558 | Roman Church's Index of Prohibited Books |
| 1780 | Bengal Gazette started by James Hickey (first Indian newspaper) |
| 1821 | Sambad Kaumudi started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy |
| 1871 | Gulamgiri published by Jyotiba Phule |
| 1876 | Amar Jiban by Rashsundari Debi (first Bengali autobiography) |
| 1878 | Vernacular Press Act passed by Lord Lytton |
18. Key Terms Glossary (शब्दावली)
| Term (English) | Hindi (हिंदी) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript | पांडुलिपि | Handwritten documents before print |
| Calligraphy | सुलेख | Art of beautiful handwriting |
| Woodblock Printing | काष्ठ खंड मुद्रण | Printing using carved wooden blocks |
| Movable Type | चल टाइप | Individual letters that can be arranged |
| Printing Press | छापाखाना | Machine used to print books |
| Platen | प्लेटन | Board which presses paper against type |
| Compositor | कंपोजिटर | Person who arranges type for printing |
| Galley | गैली | Metal frame to hold composed type |
| Almanac | पंचांग | Annual publication with calendar, events |
| Chapbook | चैपबुक | Small, cheap books sold by pedlars |
| Seditious | राजद्रोही | Content that encourages rebellion |
| Vernacular | देशी भाषा | Local or native language of a region |
| Enlightenment | प्रबोधन काल | 18th century European movement of reason |
| Protestant Reformation | प्रोटेस्टेंट सुधार | 16th century religious reform movement |
19. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
═══════════════ -->22. Quick Revision Summary
🎯 Last Minute Revision Points
Print in China & Japan:
✅ 594 AD: First printed books in China (woodblock)
✅ 868 AD: Diamond Sutra - oldest dated printed book
✅ 1040s: Bi Sheng invented movable type (clay)
✅ Japan: Ukiyo prints by Kitagawa Utamaro
Print in Europe:
✅ 1430s: Gutenberg developed printing press (Germany)
✅ 1455: Gutenberg Bible (42-line Bible) printed
✅ 1517: Martin Luther's 95 Theses → Protestant Reformation
✅ 1558: Roman Church's Index of Prohibited Books
✅ 1789: Print helped French Revolution
Print in India:
✅ 1556: First printing press (Goa, Portuguese)
✅ 1780: Bengal Gazette by James Hickey (first newspaper)
✅ 1821: Sambad Kaumudi by Raja Ram Mohan Roy
✅ 1871: Gulamgiri by Jyotiba Phule
✅ 1876: Amar Jiban by Rashsundari Debi
✅ 1878: Vernacular Press Act by Lord Lytton
Key Terms:
✅ Chapbooks: Small cheap books sold by Chapmen
✅ Almanacs: Annual publications with calendars
✅ Compositor: Person who arranges type
✅ Seditious: Content encouraging rebellion
🧠 Memory Tricks
Gutenberg's Innovations (MOIS):
📌 Metal movable type + Oil-based ink + Improved press + Screw mechanism
Key Dates in India (56-78-80-21):
📌 1556 = First Press | 1878 = VPA | 1780 = Bengal Gazette | 1821 = Sambad Kaumudi
Oldest Printed Book:
📌 Diamond Sutra = 868 AD (8+6+8 = 22, remember "22 = Double 2 = Very Old!")
Print & Revolution:
📌 Luther (1517) → Reformation | Voltaire/Rousseau → French Revolution (1789)
VPA = Vernacular Press Act:
📌 Viceroy Lytton + 1878 + Censorship of Indian papers
Women Writers (RAT-P):
📌 Rashsundari + Amar Jiban | Tarabai Shinde | Pandita Ramabai
📊 Quick Comparison Chart
| Feature | Before Print | After Print |
|---|---|---|
| Books | Handwritten, Expensive | Printed, Cheap |
| Production | Slow (months) | Fast (days) |
| Readers | Elite, Clergy | Common people |
| Ideas | Spread slowly | Spread rapidly |
| Language | Latin (Europe) | Vernacular languages |
Figure 11: Complete Chapter Summary Infographic
📚 Marwari Mission 100
RBSE Class 10 Social Science - Complete Study Material
www.ncertclasses.com | Board Exam 2026
© 2025 NCERT Classes | www.ncertclasses.com
Content prepared for RBSE/CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment