Print Culture

• What is the significance of print culture in our contemporary world?

  It shapes our understanding and access to information.
• What does the chapter aim to explore regarding print culture?

  The development of print from East Asia to its expansion in Europe and India.
• What were the main features of book making before the age of print?

  • Text was dictated and written by hand.
  • Illustrations were added manually.
  • Important art forms included calligraphy and illustration.
• When did books in China begin to be printed by rubbing paper against woodblocks?

  From AD 594 onwards.
• What was the traditional format of Chinese books before modern printing?

  The accordion book, which was folded and stitched at the side.
• How did the imperial state in China influence printed material?

  It was the major producer of printed material for civil service examinations.
• What changes occurred in the use of print in China by the seventeenth century?

  Print diversified beyond scholar-officials to include merchants and leisure reading.
• Who introduced hand-printing technology into Japan?

  Buddhist missionaries from China.
• What is the oldest Japanese book and when was it printed?

  The Buddhist Diamond Sutra, printed in AD 868.
• What were the characteristics of print culture in medieval Japan?

  • Regular publication of poets and prose writers.
  • Books were cheap and abundant.
  • Illustrated collections depicted urban culture.
• What was the role of Kitagawa Utamaro in Japanese print culture?

  He contributed to the art form called ukiyo, depicting ordinary human experiences.
• How did Marco Polo contribute to the spread of print technology in Europe?

  He brought knowledge of woodblock printing back from China to Italy.
• What was the impact of the invention of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg in the 1430s?

  It allowed for quicker and cheaper reproduction of texts.
• What was the reaction of religious authorities to the spread of printed literature?

  They feared it could spread rebellious and irreligious thoughts.
• What significant document did Martin Luther write in 1517?

  Ninety Five Theses.
• What was the effect of Luther's writings on the Catholic Church?

  It led to a division within the Church and the Protestant Reformation.
• What were the key changes brought about by the print revolution?

  • Transformation of people's relationship to information and knowledge.
  • Emergence of a new reading public.
  • Increased access to books and reading culture.
• How did the cost of books change with the advent of the printing press?

  Printing reduced the cost of books significantly.
• What was the relationship between oral culture and print culture?

  Oral culture began to enter print, blurring the lines between the two.
• What was the first printed book in Europe?

  Gutenberg's Bible.
• How did the design of Gutenberg's Bible differ from modern printed books?

  Each page was unique, with hand-painted borders and illuminated text.
• What were the roles of compositors and proofreaders in a printer's workshop?

  • Compositors arranged the text for printing.
  • Proofreaders checked the printed material for errors.
• What was the purpose of adding color to the letters in the text?

  To add color to the page and highlight holy words
• How did Gutenberg print the text before adding color?

  He printed the text in black, leaving spaces for color
• Who is a compositor?

  The person who composes the text for printing
• What is a galley in printing?

  A metal frame in which types are laid and the text composed
• What activities were happening in a sixteenth-century printer's workshop?

  • Compositors working on text
  • Galleys being prepared
  • Ink applied on metal types
  • Printers turning screws of the press
  • Proofreaders checking work
  • Final printed sheets stacked for binding

  
• What is a platen in letterpress printing?

  A board pressed onto the back of the paper to get the impression from the type
• What influenced Gutenberg's design of the printing press?

  The olive press provided the model for the printing press
• What was the first book printed by Gutenberg?

  The Bible
• How many copies of the Bible did Gutenberg print?

  About 180 copies
• How long did it take Gutenberg to produce the first Bible?

  Three years
• Did the new printing technology completely replace hand-produced books?

  No, it did not entirely displace hand-produced books
• How did printed books initially resemble handwritten manuscripts?

  They closely resembled in appearance and layout
• What was done to the borders of printed books for the wealthy?

  Space for decoration was kept blank for customization
• What happened to the number of printing presses between 1450 and 1550?

  Printing presses were set up in most countries of Europe
• How many copies of printed books were produced in the second half of the fifteenth century?

  20 million copies
• How many copies of printed books were produced in the sixteenth century?

  About 200 million copies
• What was the impact of the shift from hand printing to mechanical printing?

  It led to the print revolution
• What was the function of the long handle attached to the screw in the Gutenberg press?

  It was used to turn the screw and press down the platen