Why did some people fear the effect of easily available printed books? Choose one example from Europe and one form India.

In 16th-century Europe, the spread of easily available printed books, particularly during the Reformation, instilled fear in the Catholic Church. Martin Luther’s writings, disseminated through printing, challenged the Church’s authority, doctrines, and practices. The Catholic Church feared that these printed materials, such as Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, would lead to religious division, erode Church authority, and provoke social unrest.

In 19th-century colonial India, the British enacted the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, fearing the impact of easily available printed materials critical of British rule. This act aimed to control the Indian vernacular press, censoring newspapers and limiting freedom of expression. The fear was that printed materials, with anti-colonial sentiments, could stir dissent, fuel nationalist movements, and challenge British authority in India.

Both examples illustrate fears surrounding easily available printed books. Whether in Europe’s religious reform or colonial India’s struggle for independence, the fear revolved around printed materials challenging established authorities, potentially leading to dissent, social upheaval, and undermining existing power structures.