Test: Print Culture & Modern World - 1 - UPSC

Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing "kalli" means beautiful and graphia is the Greek word for writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a broad tip instrument, brush, or other writing instruments.

The imperial state in China was, for a very long time, the major producer of printed material. China possessed a huge bureaucratic system which recruited its personnel through the civil service examinations. Textbooks for this examination were printed in vast numbers, under the sponsorship of the imperial state.

Marco Polo was an Italian merchant, explorer, and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295.

Menocchio, the miller, enraged the Roman Catholic Church.
Some key points to consider:
- Menocchio was a miller from the village of Montereale Valcellina in Italy during the 16th century.
- He held unorthodox religious beliefs and was known for his outspokenness.
- Menocchio believed in a form of pantheism, where God was present in all things and that the universe was eternal.
- He also rejected traditional Catholic teachings and questioned the authority of the Church.
- Menocchio expressed his ideas openly and discussed them with others, which led to his conflict with the Roman Catholic Church.
- The Church considered Menocchio's beliefs as heretical and a threat to their authority.
- Menocchio was eventually arrested and put on trial by the Inquisition.
- Despite his defense, Menocchio was found guilty of heresy and was sentenced to death by burning at the stake.
Overall, Menocchio's actions and beliefs challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and led to his persecution and execution for heresy.

Martin Luther was a religious reformer. In 1517 he wrote the ‘Ninety Five Theses’ criticising many of the practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. A printed copy of this was pasted on a church door in Wittenberg. The Church was prompted to discuss his ideas.
Soon Martin Luther’s Ninety Five Theses’ was printed in vast numbers and read widely. This lead to a division within the Church and was the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

The book gulamgiri written by jyotirao phule in the year 1873 was on the theme: against injustice of caste system.

Gutenberg's First Printed Book: Bible

• Gutenberg's First Printed Book: The first printed book by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, was the Bible.


• Significance: This marked a significant milestone in the history of printing and book production.


• Printing Press Invention: Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440.


• Publication of the Bible: The Bible, also known as the Gutenberg Bible or the 42-line Bible, was printed in the 1450s.


• Features: The Gutenberg Bible was printed in Latin using movable type, which allowed for the mass production of books.


• Number of Copies: It is believed that around 180 copies of the Gutenberg Bible were printed, with only 49 copies surviving today.


• Impact: The printing of the Bible played a crucial role in the spread of knowledge, religion, and literacy during the Renaissance and beyond.


• Other Works: While the Bible was Gutenberg's most famous work, he also printed other religious texts, legal documents, and secular works.


• Legacy: Gutenberg's invention revolutionized the book industry and paved the way for the mass production and dissemination of knowledge.

Therefore, the correct answer is C: Bible.

The production of handwritten manuscripts could not satisfy the ever increasing demand for books.
(i) Manuscripts were fragile, awkward to handle and could not be carried around or read easily.
(ii) Copying was an expensive, laborious and time consuming business.This could not satisfy the increasing demand for books.

Printing also reduced the price of the books thereby books became affordable.  As the literacy level increased more people were interested in reading and buying books. d. To cater to ordinary readers, low priced small books , like penny chapbooks were published.

Martin Luther, (born November 10, 1483, Eisleben, Saxony [Germany]—died February 18, 1546, Eisleben), German theologian and religious reformer who was the catalyst of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation.