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Chapter 5 - Print Culture & The Modern World – Class 10 History Important PYQ's (CBSE)

📚 Past Year Questions (PYQs) 2019-2024

This section contains 35 authentic questions from CBSE board exams (2019 to 2024) for Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World. Organized by marks category with model answers. Master these to excel in the board exam.

📖 Chapter 5 Focus Areas

This chapter carries 8-10 marks in board exams. High-weightage topics: Gutenberg press, print revolution in Europe, print in India, religious debates, women and print, and censorship.

Most Repeated: Gutenberg press (5 times), Effects of print (4 times), Indian print history (4 times)
Conceptual Focus: Understand how print changed society, religion, politics
Tricky Area: Distinguish between different printing technologies and their impacts

PART A: Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark Each)

Answer in one word or one sentence. Precision matters most.

  1. Who developed the first printing press? [CBSE 2024]
    Answer: Johannes Gutenberg (around 1448).
  2. Name the first book printed by Gutenberg. [CBSE 2023]
    Answer: The Bible (around 1455).
  3. What is 'Vellum'? [CBSE 2023]
    Answer: A parchment made from the skin of animals, used for writing before paper.
  4. Who wrote 'Amar Jiban'? [CBSE 2022]
    Answer: Rashsundari Debi (first autobiography in Bengali by a woman).
  5. Who brought the printing press to India? [CBSE 2022]
    Answer: Portuguese missionaries in the mid-16th century.
  6. What is 'Calligraphy'? [CBSE 2021]
    Answer: The art of beautiful and stylized handwriting.
  7. Who wrote 'Gulamgiri'? [CBSE 2021]
    Answer: Jyotiba Phule (1873).
  8. What were 'Chapbooks'? [CBSE 2020]
    Answer: Pocket-sized books sold by peddlers (chapmen) in England.
  9. Who wrote 'Istri Dharm Vichar'? [CBSE 2020]
    ⚠️ Repeated
    Answer: Ram Chaddha (Punjabi book on women's conduct).
  10. What is 'Tavern'? [CBSE 2019]
    Answer: A place where people gathered to drink alcohol and exchange news in Europe.

PART B: Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

  1. Explain the role of 'Print Culture' in the French Revolution. [CBSE 2024, 3 marks] ⚠️ High Probability
    Answer: Role: (1) Spread Enlightenment ideas (Voltaire, Rousseau). (2) Created public debate and criticism of monarchy. (3) Pamphlets and newspapers circulated political ideas. (4) Mocked traditional authority. (5) Created sense of unity among revolutionaries.
  2. Explain the contribution of women in the field of print in India. [CBSE 2023, 3 marks]
    Answer: Contribution: (1) Rashsundari Debi: 'Amar Jiban' (first autobiography). (2) Kailashbashini Debi: wrote about women's condition. (3) Tarabai Shinde: 'Stripurushtulna' criticized patriarchy. (4) Women readers increased demand for books. (5) Women set up presses (Rokeya Hossein).
  3. Explain any three effects of the spread of print culture in India in the 19th century. [CBSE 2023 Compartment, 3 marks]
    Answer: Effects: (1) Religious debates and reforms (Raja Ram Mohan Roy). (2) Nationalist ideas spread (newspapers in vernacular). (3) Women's education and writing increased. (4) Caste discrimination criticized (Phule, Periyar). (5) Literary forms changed (novels, essays).
  4. Describe the main features of the 'Gutenberg Press'. [CBSE 2022, 3 marks]
    Answer: Features: (1) First printing press with movable type. (2) Mold for casting metal types for letters. (3) Could print 250 sheets per hour. (4) First printed book: Bible (1455). (5) Revolutionized book production in Europe.
  5. Explain any three reasons for the popularity of novels in the 19th century. [CBSE 2022, 3 marks]
    Answer: Popularity reasons: (1) Entertaining stories about everyday life. (2) Cheap and accessible through circulating libraries. (3) Serialized in newspapers. (4) Reflected social changes. (5) Women became major readers and writers.
  6. How did print culture affect women in India in the 19th century? [CBSE 2021, 3 marks]
    Answer: Effects on women: (1) Women became readers and writers. (2) Debates about women's education. (3) Conservative fears about women reading. (4) Women wrote about their experiences. (5) Journals for women started (Stree Bodh, Bharat Mahila).
  7. Explain the role of missionaries in the growth of print culture in India. [CBSE 2021, 3 marks]
    Answer: Missionaries' role: (1) Brought first printing press to Goa (1556). (2) Printed religious texts in Indian languages. (3) Published dictionaries and grammar books. (4) Used print for conversion activities. (5) Established presses in Serampore, Madras.
  8. Why did some people fear the effect of easily available printed books in the 19th century India? [CBSE 2020, 3 marks]
    Answer: Fears: (1) Religious authorities feared losing control. (2) Colonial rulers feared nationalist ideas. (3) Orthodox feared women's education. (4) Caste leaders feared criticism of caste system. (5) Parents feared rebellion among youth.
  9. Explain the role of cartoons and caricatures in the print culture of France. [CBSE 2020, 3 marks]
    Answer: Role: (1) Mocked royalty and aristocracy. (2) Simplified complex political ideas. (3) Reached illiterate people through visuals. (4) Created political awareness. (5) Used during French Revolution to criticize monarchy.
  10. Describe the contribution of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the field of print culture. [CBSE 2019, 3 marks]
    Answer: Contribution: (1) Published 'Sambad Kaumudi' (1821). (2) Advocated social reforms (sati, education). (3) Used print to debate with orthodox Hindus. (4) Published Persian journal 'Mirat-ul-Akhbar'. (5) Promoted modern education through print.

PART C: Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)

  1. Describe the development of print technology from China to Europe and its impact. [CBSE 2024, 5 marks]
    Answer: Development: (1) China: Woodblock printing (6th century), movable type (11th century by Bi Sheng). (2) Japan: Buddhist texts printed (768-770 AD). (3) Europe: Marco Polo brought knowledge, Gutenberg press (1448).

    Impact: (1) Books became cheaper. (2) Knowledge spread widely. (3) Reading public expanded. (4) New forms of literature emerged. (5) Religious and political revolutions enabled.
  2. Explain how print culture assisted the growth of nationalism in India. [CBSE 2023, 5 marks] ⚠️ Most Important
    Answer: Print assisted nationalism: (1) Newspapers in vernacular languages (Bengali, Marathi, Hindi). (2) Spread anti-colonial ideas. (3) Created pan-Indian identity. (4) Reported colonial exploitation. (5) Published nationalist leaders' speeches.

    Examples: (1) Raja Ram Mohan Roy's publications. (2) Bal Gangadhar Tilak's 'Kesari' and 'Maratha'. (3) Gandhi's 'Harijan', 'Young India'.
  3. Compare the print culture in Europe and India in the 19th century. [CBSE 2023 Compartment, 5 marks]
    Answer:
    Aspect Europe (19th Century) India (19th Century)
    Readers Literacy higher, middle class Literacy lower, elite initially
    Content Novels, newspapers, science Religious texts, social reform
    Control State censorship, taxes Colonial censorship, Vernacular Press Act
    Impact Enlightenment, revolutions Social reform, nationalism
    Technology Steam-powered presses Manual initially, later modern
  4. Explain the effects of print revolution in Europe. [CBSE 2022, 5 marks]
    Answer: Effects: (1) Reduced cost of books. (2) Increased literacy rates. (3) Spread new ideas (Renaissance, Reformation). (4) Created reading public. (5) New forms: novels, newspapers.

    Social impact: (1) Challenged Church authority. (2) Enabled scientific revolution. (3) Women became readers. (4) National consciousness developed. (5) French Revolution prepared.
  5. Describe the growth of newspapers in India during the 19th century. [CBSE 2022, 5 marks]
    Answer: Growth: (1) First newspaper: 'Bengal Gazette' (1780, James Hickey). (2) Indian language newspapers: 'Samachar Darpan' (1819). (3) Raja Ram Mohan Roy's 'Sambad Kaumudi' (1821). (4) By 1870s: 90 newspapers in Bombay Presidency alone.

    Impact: (1) Created public debate. (2) Vernacular Press Act (1878) to control. (3) Nationalist newspapers: Tilak's 'Kesari'. (4) Connected different regions.
  6. Explain the role of print in the religious debates in India in the 19th century. [CBSE 2021, 5 marks]
    Answer: Role in religious debates: (1) Raja Ram Mohan Roy vs orthodox Hindus on sati. (2) Christian missionaries vs Hindu reformers. (3) Islamic reform movements (Deoband, Aligarh). (4) Publication of religious texts in vernacular.

    Impact: (1) Religious identities strengthened. (2) Social reform movements grew. (3) Caste discrimination criticized. (4) Led to multiple interpretations of religion.
  7. Describe the various measures taken by the British to control the press in India. [CBSE 2021, 5 marks]
    Answer: Control measures: (1) Vernacular Press Act (1878): control Indian language newspapers. (2) Sedition laws (1898). (3) Seizure of printing presses. (4) Imprisonment of editors. (5) High taxes on paper and advertisements.

    Despite controls, nationalist press continued through underground publications.
  8. Explain how print culture created conditions for the French Revolution. [CBSE 2020, 5 marks]
    Answer: Conditions created: (1) Spread Enlightenment ideas questioning monarchy. (2) Mocked royalty through cartoons. (3) Created public sphere for political debate. (4) Pamphlets and newspapers united people. (5) Challenged Church authority.

    Historians' views: (1) Print not cause but created atmosphere. (2) Made people think differently. (3) Prepared ground for revolution.
  9. Describe the development of print in Japan. [CBSE 2020, 5 marks]
    Answer: Development in Japan: (1) Buddhist missionaries from China brought printing (768-770 AD). (2) Oldest printed book: 'Diamond Sutra' (868 AD). (3) Hand printing continued till late 19th century. (4) Printed visual material: playing cards, paintings.

    Features: (1) Extensive library of hand-printed material. (2) Books on women, music, tea ceremony. (3) Printing of illustrations (ukiyo-e).
  10. Explain the impact of print culture on the poor people in 19th century India. [CBSE 2019, 5 marks]
    Answer: Impact on poor: (1) Cheap books and pamphlets accessible. (2) Religious texts available in vernacular. (3) Social reformers wrote against caste (Phule's 'Gulamgiri'). (4) Workers' newspapers started. (5) Created awareness about rights.

    Limitations: (1) High illiteracy limited direct impact. (2) Oral reading in public places helped. (3) Conservative elements opposed education of poor.

PART D: Map-based Questions (2 Marks Each)

Note: These are locations important in print history.

  1. On the outline world map, identify: (i) Mainz (Germany) (ii) China [CBSE 2023, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Mainz: Germany (where Gutenberg developed printing press). (ii) China: Where printing originated (woodblock).
  2. Locate: (i) Goa (ii) Serampore [CBSE 2022, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Goa: India (first printing press by Portuguese). (ii) Serampore: West Bengal (missionary press by William Carey).
  3. Identify: (i) Japan (ii) France [CBSE 2021, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Japan: Adopted printing from China. (ii) France: Center of print culture and Enlightenment.
  4. Locate: (i) Rome (ii) Wittenberg [CBSE 2020, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Rome: Italy (Catholic Church headquarters). (ii) Wittenberg: Germany (where Luther posted 95 Theses).
  5. Identify: (i) Bombay (ii) Calcutta [CBSE 2019, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Bombay: Major center for newspapers and publishing. (ii) Calcutta: Early center of print culture in India.

📖 Chapter 5 Exam Strategy

Key Figures: Gutenberg, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jyotiba Phule, Rashsundari Debi
Linking Concepts: Print → Enlightenment → French Revolution; Print → Nationalism in India
Chronology: 6th century (China woodblock), 1448 (Gutenberg), 1556 (Goa press), 1780 (Bengal Gazette)
Map Practice: Print technology spread: China → Japan → Europe → India
Common Mistake: Don't say "Gutenberg invented printing" - he invented movable type printing press

⚠️ Warning: "Print culture and French Revolution" and "Print and Indian nationalism" are almost guaranteed questions. Prepare detailed answers.

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