7.

Print Culture & the Modern World

Learning objectives:
1. Development of print culture and the circulation of ideas
2. Spread of education and social reforms
3. Rise of nationalism
4. Emergence of women publishers

Guttenberg’s Printing Press Advanced Printers of today

Brief concept of the Lesson

1. The First Printed Books – The system of hand printing began first in China and introduced
into Japan and Korea Macro Polo the great explorer brought the knowledge of hand printing
technology to Italy which spread to other parts of Europe.
2. Gutenberg & the Printing Press - He invented the Printing Press and the first book
he printed was the Bible. The Printing Presses were setup in most countries of Europe between
1450 & 1550. As a result printed books flooded the markets in Europe. Thus the print revolution
began.
3. Print Revolution & its Impact -
 Reduced the cost of books
 Multiple copies can be produced at greater speed
 Reduced time & labour
 Replaced oral tradition
o Books flooded the markets
 A shift from hearing public to a reading public
  Printers published popular ballads and folk tales for the common people

4. Religious Debates and the Fear of Print -

 Persuaded the people to think differently & move them to action

 Many were apprehensive of the effects of book on people’s mind and their reaction
  Introduced a new world of ideas & debate
 Critics of church used this as an opportunity to attack blind beliefs. Ex: Martin Luther
wrote 95 theses against catholic church & later church was divided into Catholics &
Protestants
5. Development of new strategies -
1.Pedlars carried little books for sale in villages
2. Almanacs,or ritual calendars, ballads and folktales were sold
3. Reading matter for entertainment reached ordinary people
4.Chapmen sold chapbooks for a penny in England
5.In France “Biliotheque Bleue, small books for poor were printed
6. Periodicals, newspapers and journals carried information
7. Ideas of scientists and philosophers became accessible to common people
8.Shilling series were sold in England

6. Print culture and the French Revolution

Three arguments:
1. Rule of reason and rationality rather than custom
2. A new culture of dialogue and debate against the existing ideas and beliefs
3. Questions raised on the existing social order

7. Print & Dissent

Manocchio reinterpreted a view of God & Creation that angered the Church & he was executed.
Church imposed heavy restriction on printers
It started to maintain an Index of Prohibited Books

8. The Nineteenth Century – children, women & workers

The print recorded old tales but also changed them
Women become important readers as well as writers. Ex: Jane Austin, Bronte sisters, George
Eliot etc
Lending libraries became instruments for educating while collar workers, artisans & lower
middle class
Growth of self expression

9. Innovations in printing press

Press came to be made out of metal
Richard M Hoe of New York perfected the power driven cylindrical press. It was more useful in
printing newspaper
Offset press was developed which could print six colors at a time

10. Print comes to India

Printing press came to Goa with the Portuguese missionaries

50 books were printed in the Konkani & Kanara languages by 1674
Catholic priests printed first Malayalam & Tamil book.
A Hickey began to edit Bengal Gazette
Gangadhar Bhattahary was the first Indian to start newspaper called Bengal Gazette

11. Religious Reform & Public Debates

Debate over religious reforms took center stage in the 19 th century
Intense debates went on over widow immolation, monotheism, Brahmanical priesthood &
idolatory
Sambad Kaumudi, Samachar Chandrika, Jam – i- Jahan, Shamsul Akbar & Bombay Samachar
were leading publications of that day
The Muslims used cheap lithographic press to publish scriptures in Persian & Urdu to counter the
moves of the colonial power
The Deoband Seminary published thousands of fatwas for Muslims how to conduct in everyday
life
Growth of vernacular languages
Naval Kishore Press & Sri Venkateshwar Presspublished various religious texts in vernaculars
It connected people of different communities

12. New Forms of Publication

New literary forms- lyrics, short stories, essays about social & political matters & new
emphasis on human lives became part of the literature
Visual images could be easily reproduced in multiples
Caricatures & cartoons were published in journals & newspaper ridiculing the educated Indians’
fascination with western tastes & clothes

13. Print & Poor People

Cheap small books were published for the poor
Public libraries were set up
It was prestigious matter for the rich to set library
Gulamgiri of Jyotiba Phule exposed the ill-treatment to the low caste
Dr Ambedkar & E V Ramaswamy Naicker wrote powerfully against untouchability
Chhote Aur Bade Ka Saval of Kashibaba exposed the link between caste & class exploitation
Sudarshan Chakr published a collection called Sachchi Kavitayan

14. Print & Censorship

English East India Company thought to censor the press as it was directed against misrule of
the Company & its officials
Calcutta Supreme Court passed regulation on press freedom in 1820s
Thomas Macaulay restored rights to the press
Vernacular Press Act was passed to regulate the vernacular press as it was assertively nationalistic
Kesari & Marati were published by Tilak

Important Terms
Calligraphy: the art of beautiful & stylized writing

Vellum: A parchment made from the skin of animals

Ulama: Legal scholars of Islam & the sharia

Fatwa: A legal pronouncement on Islamic law usually given by a Mufti to clarify issues on which
the law is uncertain

Despotism: A system of governance in which absolute power is exercised by an individual,

unregulated by legal & constitutional checks
Denominations: Sub groups within a religion

Almanac: An annual publication giving astronomical data, information about the movements of
the sun & moon, timing of full tides & eclipses, and much else that was of importance in the
everyday life of people

Chapbook: A term used to describe pocket size books that are sold by traveling pedlars called
chapmen. These became popular from the time of the 16 th century print revolution

Protestant Reformation: A 16th century movement to reform the Catholic Church dominated by
Rome. Several traditions of anti-Catholic Christianity developed out of the movement

Inquisition: A former Roman Catholic court for identifying & punishing heretics

Heretical: Beliefs which do not follow the accepted teachings of the Church. In medieval times,
heresy was seen as a threat to the right of the Church to decide on what should be believed &
what should not. Heretical beliefs were severely punished
 Satiety: The state of being fulfilled much beyond the point of satisfaction

Seditious: Action, speech or writing that is seen as opposing the government

Ballad: A historical account or folk tale in verse, usually sung or recited

Taverns: Places where people gathered to drink alcohol, to be served food & to meet friends &
exchange news

Questions & Answers

1. Where did the print technology begin in the world & how?
Ans. China, Japan, Korea
 Rubbing paper against the inked surface of woodblocks

2. Which is the oldest Japanese book? When was it printed?

Ans. Diamond Sutra in 868A D

3. What is called ukiyo? Who developed it?

Ans. Pictures of floating world or depiction of ordinary experiences. Kitagawa Utamaro
developed it.
4. Who developed printing press? Which country does he belong to?
Ans. Johann Gutenberg, Germany
5. What were the merits of print books?
Ans. a The ideas of scientists & philosophers now became more accessible
b They were sources of spreading progress & enlightenment.
Believed that it would liberate the world from despotism
c It created a new world of debate & discussion
Persuaded the people to think & act differently
d Attacked blind beliefs of the church
e) Reformation of church & society
f) Reduced the cost of books
g) Time & labour required to produce books was reduced
h) Rural folk acquired new forms

6. How did the print culture create the conditions for French Revolution? Explain
Ans.It popularized the ideas of Enlighted thinkers. It created critical commentary on tradition,
superstition & despotism. Everything should be judged through the application of reason
& nationality.
It created a new culture of dialogue & debate. Values, norms & institutions were
reevaluated & discussed by the public.
 Outpouring of literature that mocked the royalty & criticized their morality. People
questioned the existing social orders. Cartoons were published depicting the monarch as
involved in sensual pleasures.
 7. What were the drawbacks of manuscripts?
Could not meet the increasing demand
Expensive & fragile, laborious and time consuming
Awkward to handle
Difficult to read and carry
Errors were caused while writing
Limited number of copies were available

Extra Questions:
1. How did Martin Luther’s writings bring the Protestant Reformation?
2. What were the new strategies adopted by printers and publishers to sell their products?
3. The print culture created the conditions within which French revolutions occurred? Support
the arguments of historians on this statement.
4. What were the contributions of scientists in the development of popular literature?
5. Enumerate the series of innovations which had taken place in printing technology.
6. Describe the importance of manuscript in India.
7. Make a list of social reformers and their publications.
8. Throw light on the contribution of Indian women in publication.
9. What were the restrictions imposed on Indian press after the revolt of 1857?