1. The factors that led to reading mania in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe were as mentioned below: (i) Rise in literacy rate: Churches opened schools in villages. This increased the rate of literacy among peasants and artisans. In some parts of Europe, literacy rate went up to 60 tRead more

    The factors that led to reading mania in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe were as mentioned below:
    (i) Rise in literacy rate: Churches opened schools in villages. This increased the rate of literacy among peasants and artisans. In some parts of Europe, literacy rate went up to 60 to 80 per cent. It encouraged people to read more and more books which were printed in increasing numbers.
    (ii) New forms of popular literature: New forms of popular literature, such as
    almanacs or ritual calendars, folktales, Chapbooks, Biliotheque Bleue, were printed. Booksellers employed peddlers for sale of this printed literature. Chapbooks were sold for a penny and the poor could buy such books easily. Books of various sizes, serving many different purposes and interests were published.
    (iii) Rise of periodical press: From the early eighteenth century, the periodical press printed information about current affairs with entertainment. Newspapers and journals wrote about wars and trade, and developments in other places.
    (iv) Ideas of scientists and philosophers: The ideas of scientists and philosophers were published with maps and scientific diagrams. It attracted people. For example, the discoveries of Isaac Newton influenced large number of people.

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  2. The print played a significant role in bringing about a division in the Roman Catholic Church' There were many malpractices in the church. Ordinary people were exploited by the clergies. A movement known as protestant reformation was started in the sixteenth century to reform the catholic church domRead more

    The print played a significant role in bringing about a division in the Roman Catholic Church’ There were many malpractices in the church. Ordinary people were exploited by the clergies. A movement known as protestant reformation was started in the sixteenth century to reform the catholic church dominated by Rome. Martin Luther was one of the main protestant reformers. In 1517, Luther wrote 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’ It challenged the church to debate his ideas. Luther’s writings were reproduced in vast numbers and read widely. This led to a division within the church and helped to-spread the new ideas that led to the beginning of protestant Reformation.

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  3. The ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common people due to the following Factors: (i) Ancient and medieval scientific text were compiled and published and maps and scientific diagrams were widely printed. (ii) When scientists like Isacc Newton began to publish theirRead more

    The ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common people due to the following Factors:
    (i) Ancient and medieval scientific text were compiled and published and maps and
    scientific diagrams were widely printed.
    (ii) When scientists like Isacc Newton began to publish their discoveries, they could influence a much wider circle of scientifically minded, readers
    (iii) The writings of thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau were also widely printed and read.
    Thus their ideas about science, reason and rationality found their way into popular literature too.

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  4. The significance of newspapers and journals in the early 18th century was as given below: (i) Newspaper and journals carried information about war and trade. (ii) They provided new of development in other places. (iii) The ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common peoRead more

    The significance of newspapers and journals in the early 18th century was as given below:
    (i) Newspaper and journals carried information about war and trade.
    (ii) They provided new of development in other places.
    (iii) The ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common people.
    (iv) Ancient and medieval scientific texts were compiled and published.
    (v) Map and scientific diagrams were widely printed.
    (vi) Writings of thinkers like Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Rousseau were printed and read by the people.

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  5. Some people feared the effect of easily available printed books because rebellious and irreligious thoughts might affect the minds of the people. If that happened, the authority of 'valuable 'literature would be destroyed. For example, in Europe. the writings of Martin Luther - Ninety-Five Theses leRead more

    Some people feared the effect of easily available printed books because rebellious and irreligious thoughts might affect the minds of the people. If that happened, the authority of ‘valuable ‘literature would be destroyed. For example, in Europe. the writings of Martin Luther – Ninety-Five Theses led to a division within the Church and to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
    Similarly, in India easy availability of books led to discontentment among the Indians and encouraged them to take part in the freedom movement. The government was afraid of such writings and kept continuous track of all books and newspapers published in India and passed numerous laws.

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