Print Comes to Europe

Print Comes to Europe

• Paper from China reached Europe in the 11th century via the Silk Route, enabling the production of manuscripts.
• Marco Polo brought the woodblock printing technology from China to Italy in 1295, which spread throughout Europe.
• Luxury editions were still handwritten on vellum for aristocratic circles and monastic libraries which rejected printed books as cheap.
• Merchants and students in university towns bought cheaper printed copies.
• The demand for books increased, leading to booksellers exporting books and holding book fairs.
• Manuscript production was organized in new ways to keep up with the growing demand.
• The Jikji of Korea is one of the oldest books printed with movable metal type.

Printing and Print Culture

• Printed material could be enjoyed by those who were illiterate by being read aloud.
• Printers began publishing popular ballads and folk tales, illustrated with pictures, to reach wider audiences.
• The line between oral and written culture blurred, integrating hearing and reading audiences.

Religious Debates and the Fear of Print

• Print facilitated wide circulation of ideas and sparked new debates and discussions.
• People with dissenting views could print and circulate their ideas, challenging established authorities.
• Print could influence people's thinking and lead to action.
• Some feared the impact of easy access to printed material on people's minds.

The Power of Print

• In the 18th century, books were seen as a way to spread progress and enlightenment.
• Many believed books could liberate society from tyranny and herald an age of reason.
• French novelist Louise-Sébastien Mercier advocated for the power of print in his novels, portraying heroes transformed through reading.
• He believed print could destroy the basis of despotism, proclaiming, "Tremble, therefore, tyrants of the world!"

Print and the French Revolution

• Print culture contributed to the growth of hostile sentiments against the monarchy.
• Despite the spread of ideas through print, people were exposed to various perspectives, including those of the monarchy and Church propaganda.
• Readers interpreted information and took actions based on their own understanding.
• It's important to note that print did not directly shape people's minds but opened possibilities for different thought processes.

The Rise of Mass Literacy

• The 19th century saw substantial growth in mass literacy in Europe, mainly among children, women, and workers.
• Compulsory education from the late 19th century led to children becoming a significant readership, driving the production of school textbooks.

Manuscripts in India

• Manuscripts continued to be produced in India for the rich even after the arrival of the printing press, showcasing beautiful calligraphy and elaborate designs.
• Although pre-colonial Bengal had a network of village primary schools, students primarily learned to write.
• They were not exposed to extensive reading of texts, learning through dictation and copying, becoming literate without reading.

Print Arrives in India

• Portuguese missionaries brought printing press technology to Goa in the mid-16th century.
• Jesuit priests printed various tracts in Konkani and Kanara languages.
• The first Tamil book was printed in 1579 at Cochin, followed by the first Malayalam book in 1713 by Catholic priests.
• Dutch Protestant missionaries printed 32 Tamil texts, including translations of older works.
• Handwritten manuscripts continued to be produced in India well into the 18th century.
• The Rigveda manuscript from the 18th century is an example of manuscripts continuing to be produced in the Malayalam script.