(a) How did print come into existence in Europe? Explain.

(i) In the eleventh century, Chinese paper reached Europe via the same route.

(ii) Paper made possible the production of manuscripts, carefully written by scribes.

(iii) Marco polo took away and spread the technology to Europe.

(iv) Italians began producing books with woodblocks, and soon the technology spread to other parts of Europe.

(v) Merchants and students in the university town bought the cheaper printed copies.

(vi) Book fairs were held in different places.

(vii) The break through occurred when Johann Gutenberg developed the first printing press.

(b)How did access to books create a new culture of reading? Explain.

(i) Earlier reading was restricted to the elites. Common people lived in a world of oral culture. They heard sacred texts read out, ballads recited, and folk tales narrated.

(ii) With the printing press, a new reading public emerged.

(iii) Printing reduced the cost of books. Multiple copies produced with greater ease.

(iv) Books flooded the market, reaching out to an ever-growing readership.

(v) Now books could reach out to wider sections of people.

(vi) People started writing and publishing popular ballads and folk tales and were illustrated with pictures.