Print Culture and the Modern World Class 10 ||History|| Chapter 5 NCERT Notes

Print Culture and the Modern World Class 10 ||History|| Chapter 5 NCERT Notes

1. The First Printed Books

China, Japan, and Korea

• China: The art of printing began in China around the 6th century CE. China was the world’s pioneer in printing, and for a long time, printing was done on woodblocks.
  • Buddhist missionaries carried woodblock printing to Japan and Korea.
  • In China, printed materials included textbooks for educating scholars and official documents.
• By the 17th century, China became a center of a vibrant reading culture due to increased literacy and demand for printed materials. This expanded to fiction, poetry, and plays.

Japan: Like China, Japan also developed a print culture. By the late 18th century, the popularity of print in Japan was apparent in the spread of illustrated books, often depicting aspects of daily life and nature.

2. Print in Europe

• Johann Gutenberg of Germany is credited with inventing the first movable type printing press around 1430. This revolutionized the production of books, making them easier and cheaper to produce, which in turn spread knowledge more rapidly.
• The Gutenberg Bible (printed in 1455) was the first major book printed using movable type. Gutenberg’s invention led to a huge rise in the number of books in circulation, including books on science, philosophy, and religion.

Growth of Press in Europe

• The invention of the printing press resulted in:
  1. Increased production of books.
  2. The development of a reading public.
  3. Spread of humanist ideas during the Renaissance period.

Books now became affordable, and literacy rates increased. Scholars across Europe began to have access to a wide range of ideas, fostering the development of scientific thought and the spread of Enlightenment ideas.

3. Print and Religious Debates

• Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible into German (in the 16th century) was printed and widely circulated, fueling the Protestant Reformation. The spread of religious ideas, especially the criticism of the Catholic Church, was enhanced by print.
• Pamphlets and books became powerful tools for religious and political debates. Luther’s writings reached a large audience, challenging the power of the Catholic Church and promoting the idea of individual interpretation of the Bible.

4. Print and the Enlightenment

• Print culture played a key role in the Enlightenment (17th-18th centuries), a period where scientific reasoning and critical thinking flourished.
• Philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and John Locke used print to spread their revolutionary ideas on liberty, equality, and fraternity. These ideas directly influenced the French Revolution.

Books, Newspapers, and Ideas

• The emergence of newspapers and journals allowed for a broader dissemination of ideas, leading to an informed public. This was crucial in fostering the idea of public opinion.
• Print also became a medium for satirists to criticize absolute monarchies and corrupt institutions, further fueling revolutionary sentiment.

5. The Nineteenth Century: The Growth of Press

Expansion of Literacy

• The 19th century saw a surge in the availability of books, newspapers, and journals. With industrialization, literacy rates rose, and so did the demand for print materials.
• Serial novels became very popular, particularly in Europe and America. Writers like Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy wrote novels that were published in installments in magazines.

Women and Print

• Print culture also had an impact on women. More women became literate, and women authors began to emerge.
• Women’s magazines emerged in Europe and America, containing domestic advice as well as stories that reflected women’s concerns.

Working Class and Print

• In industrial societies, the working class also became a key audience for print materials. Newspapers focusing on labor rights, workers' movements, and social issues began to appear.
• Political parties and movements used pamphlets and leaflets to organize workers and spread awareness about social injustices.

6. India and Print Culture

Early Print in India

• The Portuguese missionaries introduced printing in India in Goa in the mid-16th century.
• By the late 18th century, the first Indian newspaper was printed. This was followed by a proliferation of newspapers and journals in the 19th century in various Indian languages.

Impact of Print on Social Reforms

• Print became a powerful tool for social reformers to voice their concerns. Reformers like Raja Rammohun Roy used newspapers and journals to spread awareness about social evils like Sati, child marriage, and caste discrimination.

Print and Nationalism

• The rise of print culture in India was crucial in spreading the ideas of nationalism.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, through his newspapers like Kesari and Maratha, voiced opposition to British rule and played a significant role in mobilizing public opinion.
• The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 imposed censorship on the Indian press, which was becoming increasingly critical of British policies. Despite this, the press continued to be a platform for nationalist discourse.

7. Print and Censorship

• Censorship of printed materials was practiced in many countries.
  • In Europe, before 18th century, monarchs and church authorities controlled what could be published.
  • In India, during British rule, several laws like the Vernacular Press Act were passed to curb the freedom of the press.

Despite censorship, print continued to play a critical role in social, political, and cultural transformations.

Conclusion

Print culture had a transformative impact on society. It revolutionized the way information was shared, fostered education, and played a vital role in shaping modern democratic societies. The chapter highlights the powerful influence of print in promoting social reform, religious debates, political movements, and the spread of revolutionary ideas across the globe.