Case Based Questions: Print Culture and the Modern World | Social Studies (SST) Class 10 PDF Download

Q1: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The earliest kind of print technology was developed in China, Japan, and Korea. In AD 594, books in China were printed by rubbing paper—also invented there—against the inked surface of woodblocks. The traditional Chinese accordion book was folded and stitched at the side. Skilled craftsmen could duplicate calligraphy with great accuracy. Over time, the imperial state in China became a major producer of printed material. By the seventeenth century, urban culture in China flourished, and print was used for entertainment, trade, and education. Fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, and plays gained popularity.

i. Which region first developed print technology?(1 mark)
ii. What was the role of the imperial state in the spread of print in China?(1 mark)
iii. How did print culture change in China by the seventeenth century?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. China, Japan, and Korea were the first to develop print technology.
ii. The imperial state in China sponsored the printing of books, especially for civil service examinations.
iii. By the seventeenth century, print culture in China diversified significantly. Fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, and plays gained popularity, and print was used for entertainment, trade, and education. Even women and merchants became active participants in reading and publishing, reflecting the flourishing urban culture.

Q2: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Johann Gutenberg, a German goldsmith, developed the first-known printing press in the 1430s in Strasbourg. He used skills from his previous work—such as polishing stones and creating lead molds—to design his innovation. His press was modeled on the olive press and used movable metal type for printing letters. The first book he printed was the Bible, producing 180 copies in three years. This technology transformed book production—by the sixteenth century, 200 million copies of printed books flooded European markets.

i. What was the first book printed by Gutenberg?(1 mark)
ii. How did Gutenberg’s printing press improve book production?(1 mark)
iii. Why is the Gutenberg press considered a revolutionary invention?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. The first book printed by Gutenberg was the Bible.
ii. It allowed faster and cheaper production of books, making knowledge accessible to a larger audience.
iii. The Gutenberg press is considered a revolutionary invention because it transformed book culture by making books widely available, which significantly influenced literacy, education, and the spread of ideas. It also played a key role in religious reforms, such as the Protestant Reformation, by enabling the mass distribution of texts like the Bible.

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Q3: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Many historians argue that print culture helped spark the French Revolution. First, Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau used print to criticize traditional norms and advocate reason, democracy, and freedom. Second, print created a new culture of debate, allowing people to  Qauthority. Third, cartoons and pamphlets mocked the French monarchy, exposing their corruption and luxury while the common people suffered. While print alone did not cause the revolution, it played a crucial role in shaping new political ideas and encouraging dissent.

i. Which thinkers used print to spread revolutionary ideas in France?(1 mark)
ii. How did print contribute to political debate during the French Revolution?(1 mark)
iii. Why do some historians believe print culture helped cause the French Revolution?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau spread ideas through print.
ii. Print allowed public debate on monarchy, religion, and governance, creating an informed and  Qing society.
iii. Some historians believe print culture helped cause the French Revolution because it challenged traditional authority, spread democratic ideas, and exposed the corruption of the monarchy through pamphlets and cartoons. This made people more aware of their rights and inspired them to question and oppose oppressive systems.

Q4: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1517, Martin Luther criticized the Roman Catholic Church by publishing his Ninety-Five Theses,  Qing church corruption and the sale of indulgences. His writings were widely printed and circulated, leading to the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s translation of the Bible into German allowed ordinary people to read religious texts themselves, weakening the Church’s authority. Religious leaders feared that print could lead to the spread of irreligious and rebellious thoughts. The Roman Catholic Church responded by banning certain books and creating an Index of Prohibited Books in 1558.

i. What was Martin Luther’s main criticism of the Catholic Church?(1 mark)
ii. How did print help Martin Luther’s ideas spread?(1 mark)
iii. Why did the Catholic Church fear the printing press?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Luther criticized the Church’s corruption and the sale of indulgences.
ii. The printing press allowed Luther’s writings to be mass-produced and widely read across Europe.
iii. The Catholic Church feared the printing press because it could spread new interpretations of faith, challenge traditional doctrines, and encourage dissent, leading to a loss of the Church’s authority and control over religious beliefs.

Q5: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The printing press came to India with Portuguese missionaries in the sixteenth century, but English-language newspapers started only in the late eighteenth century. James Augustus Hickey published the Bengal Gazette in 1780, criticizing British policies. By the nineteenth century, Indian reformers like Rammohun Roy used print to promote social reforms such as women’s education and widow remarriage. During the nationalist movement, newspapers like Kesari (edited by Bal Gangadhar Tilak) and The Hindu spread anti-colonial ideas. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was introduced by the British to suppress nationalist newspapers.

i. Who published the first English newspaper in India?(1 mark)
ii. How did newspapers help spread nationalist ideas in India?(1 mark)
iii. Why did the British introduce the Vernacular Press Act in 1878?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. James Augustus Hickey published the Bengal Gazette in 1780.
ii. Nationalist newspapers criticized British policies, promoted freedom struggles, and encouraged political awareness.
iii. The British introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 to censor Indian-language newspapers and suppress anti-British sentiments. It aimed to control the vernacular press, which was seen as a major platform for spreading nationalist ideas and mobilizing public opinion against colonial rule.

Q6: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, literacy rates in Europe increased, and reading became a common activity. Churches played a major role in spreading literacy by setting up schools in villages. As literacy rates rose, the demand for books also grew. The publishing industry responded by producing cheap books like penny chapbooks in England and Bibliothèque Bleue in France, making reading affordable even for the poor. The periodical press also became popular, and newspapers and journals began to combine current affairs with entertainment. This helped spread scientific knowledge and philosophical ideas to a wider audience.

i. How did churches contribute to increasing literacy in Europe?(1 mark)
ii. What were ‘penny chapbooks’ and ‘Bibliothèque Bleue’?(1 mark)
iii. How did the increase in literacy impact the spread of knowledge?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Churches set up schools in villages, helping peasants and artisans gain literacy.
ii. Penny chapbooks (England) and Bibliothèque Bleue (France) were cheap books that allowed common people to afford reading materials.
iii. The increase in literacy led to a higher demand for books, enabling scientific discoveries, philosophical ideas, and political thoughts to reach a wider audience. This helped spread knowledge beyond the elite, fostering intellectual growth and societal change.

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Q7: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

With the growth of print culture in the nineteenth century, women’s education became a major topic of discussion. Many journals and magazines were published, promoting the idea that women should be educated. Reformers like Rashsundari Debi, Tarabai Shinde, and Pandita Ramabai wrote about the condition of women in society. However, not all families supported female education. Many conservative Hindus feared that a literate girl would become a widow, while some Muslims worried that educated women would be corrupted by reading. Despite opposition, women continued to learn in secret and published books on social issues.

i. Name any two women reformers who supported female education.(1 mark)
ii. Why did some people oppose the education of women?(1 mark)
iii. How did print culture help women express their views?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Rashsundari Debi and Pandita Ramabai were two women reformers who supported female education.
ii. Some Hindus feared educated women would become widows, and some Muslims believed reading would corrupt them.
iii. Print culture provided women with a platform to express their views by enabling them to write books, articles, and journals about gender discrimination and social issues. This helped raise awareness, challenge societal norms, and inspire movements for social reform.

Q8: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

In nineteenth-century India, social reformers used print to challenge caste discrimination. Jyotiba Phule wrote Gulamgiri (1871), criticizing Brahminical dominance and caste oppression. In the twentieth century, B.R. Ambedkar and E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) published books and newspapers to spread anti-caste ideas. These writings influenced Dalit movements and helped in mobilizing people against caste injustices. Workers and lower-caste groups also published their own tracts, criticizing upper-caste dominance and advocating equality.

i. Name a book written by Jyotiba Phule against caste oppression.(1 mark)
ii. Which two leaders used print to spread anti-caste ideas in the twentieth century?(1 mark)
iii. How did print help in caste reform movements in India?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Gulamgiri (1871) was a book written by Jyotiba Phule against caste oppression.
ii. B.R. Ambedkar and E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) were two leaders who used print to spread anti-caste ideas in the twentieth century.
iii. Print helped in caste reform movements by spreading awareness about caste-based injustices, mobilizing people for collective action, and challenging Brahminical dominance through books, newspapers, and tracts. It provided a platform for Dalit voices and advocated equality, inspiring social change.

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Q9: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

By the late nineteenth century, many Indian newspapers became critical of British rule. The colonial government responded by passing the Vernacular Press Act in 1878. This law allowed British officials to censor reports and editorials in vernacular newspapers. If a newspaper published ‘seditious’ content, it was warned, and if it continued, the printing press could be seized. Despite this repression, nationalist newspapers like Kesari (edited by Bal Gangadhar Tilak) and The Hindu continued to challenge British rule, spreading anti-colonial ideas.

i. Why did the British introduce the Vernacular Press Act?(1 mark)
ii. What punishment did newspapers face under this Act?(1 mark)
iii. How did nationalist newspapers resist colonial censorship?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. The British introduced the Vernacular Press Act to suppress nationalist newspapers critical of British rule.
ii. Newspapers that published ‘seditious’ content were warned, and if they continued, their presses were seized.
iii. Nationalist newspapers resisted colonial censorship by continuing to publish anti-colonial ideas using coded language, symbolic messages, and alternative printing methods to evade restrictions. They also mobilized public opinion against British repression, turning censorship into a rallying point for the freedom struggle.

Q10: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

During the Indian freedom struggle, print played a major role in spreading nationalist ideas. Newspapers and pamphlets mobilized people, criticized British policies, and encouraged participation in protests. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi used print to communicate their message. Gandhi’s Young India and Harijan inspired people to fight for Swaraj (self-rule). The British tried to control nationalist publications, but underground printing presses continued spreading the message of freedom.

i. Name two newspapers started by Mahatma Gandhi.(1 mark)
ii. How did newspapers help in the freedom struggle?(1 mark)
iii. How did the British respond to nationalist print campaigns?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Young India and Harijan were two newspapers started by Mahatma Gandhi.
ii. Newspapers mobilized people, spread anti-British sentiment, and encouraged participation in protests.
iii. The British responded to nationalist print campaigns by imposing censorship, seizing printing presses, and passing laws like the Vernacular Press Act to suppress seditious content. However, underground printing presses and alternative methods were used to continue spreading the message of the freedom movement.