NCERT Important Questions Class 10 Social Science Chapter 5
Important NCERT Extra Questions
Chapter 5 Print Culture and The Modern World
NCERT Book Extra Questions for Session 2022-2023
CBSE Board and UP Board Others state Board
Which factors led to reading mania in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe?
Or
Describe the causes for extreme enthusiasm for reading in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe.
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.