(a)Woodblock print was invented around the sixth century in
China. It came to Europe, along with Marco Polo, in 1295. Marco
Polo returned to Italy after many years of exploration in China,
and he brought the knowledge of woodblock print with him on
his return.
(b) Through the publications of his protestant ideas, Martin
Luther challenged the orthodox practices and rituals of the
Roman Catholic Church. He wrote 95 theses criticizing many of
the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther’s writings
were immediately reproduced in vast numbers and read widely.
This led to a division within the church and to the beginning of
the Protestant Reformation. He also translated the New
Testament of which 5000 copies were sold within a few days.
These were impossible without the printing technology. Deeply
grateful to the print, Luther said, “Printing is the ultimate gift of
God and the greatest one.”
This is the reason why Luther was in favour of print and spoke
out in praise of it.
(c) The Roman Catholic Church had to face many dissents from
mid-16th century onwards. People had written many books that
interpreted the God and the creation in their own ways or as
they liked. Therefore, the church banned such books and kept
the record of such banned books. It was called the Index of
Prohibited Books.
(d) Gandhi considered that the liberty of speech, liberty of press
and freedom of association were three most powerful vehicles
of expressing and cultivating public opinion. Therefore, he said
the fight for Swaraj was a fight for liberty of speech, press, and
freedom for association.
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