The First Printed Books Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF

Topic covered: The First Printed Books class 11 notes and MCQs questions: Changing Cultural Traditions (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 11th about “The First Printed Books“ from the NCERT history notes for class 11th chapter 5 “Changing Cultural Traditions”.

Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 5 Changing Cultural Traditions Notes PDF

Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 5 Changing Cultural Traditions Notes PDF if you want a clear and readable explanation of how ideas, art, and knowledge began to change in medieval Europe. These notes walk you through the revival of Italian cities, the growth of universities, and the rise of humanism, showing how people started to look at history, science, and philosophy in new ways. You will also learn about the Arab contribution to knowledge, realistic art, architecture, the first printed books, and changing views about human beings and women. The chapter ends with important religious debates and scientific ideas like the Copernican Revolution, helping you understand how people began to read and interpret the universe differently.

The First Printed Books Class 11

1. Spread of Italian Culture Beyond Italy:

• Paintings, sculptures and buildings required travel to Italy
• Written works travelled to other countries
• Written word became the main medium of cultural spread

2. Printing as the Greatest Revolution of the Sixteenth Century:

• Mastery of printing technology was the greatest revolution
• Enabled large-scale circulation of ideas and knowledge

3. Non-European Contribution to Printing:

• Europeans were indebted to Chinese for printing technology
• Knowledge of printing spread through Mongol rulers
• European traders and diplomats learned it during visits to Mongol courts

4. Other Innovations Transmitted Similarly:

• Firearms
• Compass
• Abacus
• All spread through contact with other civilizations

5. Situation Before Printing:

• Texts existed in very few handwritten copies
• Copying was slow and time-consuming
• Monks manually wrote books

6. Gutenberg and the First Printing Press:

• Johannes Gutenberg (1400–1458) invented the first printing press
• In 1455, 150 copies of the Bible were printed
• Earlier, writing one Bible took the same amount of time as printing 150 copies

7. Growth of Printed Texts by 1500:

• By 1500, many classical texts were printed
• Most printed texts were in Latin
• Italy became a major centre of printing

8. Impact on Education:

• Printed books became available for purchase
• Students no longer depended only on lecture notes
• Access to learning became easier

9. Faster Circulation of Ideas:

• Ideas, opinions and information moved more widely
• Communication became faster than ever before
• A single book could reach hundreds of readers quickly

10. Rise of Individual Reading:

• People could buy personal copies of books
• Encouraged individual reading
• Developed a reading habit among people

11. Spread of Humanist Culture:

• Humanist culture spread rapidly across the Alps
• Spread accelerated from the end of the fifteenth century
• Main reason: circulation of printed books

12. Limitation of Earlier Intellectual Movements:

• Earlier movements were confined to specific regions
• Lack of printing restricted their spread
• Printing explains the wider reach of Renaissance ideas

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE History Class 11 Chapter 5: Changing Cultural Traditions

MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 5 – The First Printed Books Class 11

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “The First Printed Books Class 11” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. Why did people have to travel to Italy to see paintings, sculptures or buildings?

A. They were not exported
B. Artists did not allow copies
C. Art was location-specific
D. Italy banned travel

Answer: C

Question 2. Unlike art, what travelled from Italy to other countries?

A. Buildings
B. Sculptures
C. Written word
D. Architects

Answer: C

Question 3. The spread of written ideas from Italy was possible mainly due to:

A. Universities
B. Trade routes
C. Printing technology
D. Monasteries

Answer: C

Question 4. The mastery of printing technology is described as the greatest revolution of the:

A. Fifteenth century
B. Sixteenth century
C. Seventeenth century
D. Fourteenth century

Answer: B

Question 5. Europeans were indebted to which people for printing technology?

A. Romans
B. Greeks
C. Chinese
D. Persians

Answer: C

Question 6. Europeans became familiar with printing technology through contact with:

A. Arabs
B. Mongol rulers
C. Byzantine traders
D. Italian scholars

Answer: B

Question 7. European traders and diplomats encountered printing during visits to:

A. Chinese villages
B. Islamic universities
C. Mongol courts
D. Roman cities

Answer: C

Question 8. Which of the following innovations also spread in the same way as printing?

A. Paper, ink and pen
B. Firearms, compass and abacus
C. Wheel, plough and sail
D. Telescope, microscope and clock

Answer: B

Question 9. Before printing, texts usually existed as:

A. Stone inscriptions
B. Multiple printed editions
C. A few hand-written copies
D. Oral traditions

Answer: C

Question 10. In which year were 150 copies of the Bible printed?

A. 1400
B. 1455
C. 1480
D. 1500

Answer: B

Question 11. The Bible copies were printed in the workshop of:

A. Martin Luther
B. Johannnes Gutenberg
C. Erasmus
D. Petrarch

Answer: B

Question 12. Johannnes Gutenberg lived during:

A. 1300–1350
B. 1350–1400
C. 1400–1458
D. 1450–1500

Answer: C

Question 13. Gutenberg is known for:

A. Translating the Bible
B. Writing classical texts
C. Making the first printing press
D. Introducing humanism

Answer: C

Question 14. Earlier, producing one handwritten Bible took:

A. A few weeks
B. A few months
C. The same time as printing 150 copies
D. Less time than printing

Answer: C

Question 15. By 1500, which texts had been widely printed in Italy?

A. Religious texts in Greek
B. Classical texts mostly in Latin
C. Scientific texts in Arabic
D. Vernacular literature

Answer: B

Question 16. The availability of printed books made it possible for students to:

A. Avoid universities
B. Depend only on teachers
C. Buy books
D. Stop studying

Answer: C

Question 17. After printing, students no longer depended solely on:

A. Libraries
B. Priests
C. Lecture-notes
D. Manuscripts

Answer: C

Question 18. Printing led to ideas spreading:

A. Slowly and locally
B. Widely and rapidly
C. Only among elites
D. Only within Italy

Answer: B

Question 19. A printed book promoting new ideas could reach:

A. A handful of readers
B. Only scholars
C. Hundreds of readers
D. Only monks

Answer: C

Question 20. Printing encouraged which new habit among people?

A. Writing
B. Memorising
C. Reading
D. Teaching

Answer: C

Question 21. Printing made individual reading possible because books were:

A. Free
B. Rare
C. Affordable to buy
D. Only in libraries

Answer: C

Question 22. The spread of humanist culture across the Alps accelerated after:

A. Fourteenth century
B. Mid-fifteenth century
C. End of the fifteenth century
D. Sixteenth century only

Answer: C

Question 23. The chief reason for the rapid spread of Italian humanism was:

A. Travel of artists
B. Role of universities
C. Circulation of printed books
D. Political expansion

Answer: C

Question 24. Earlier intellectual movements remained limited mainly because:

A. People opposed new ideas
B. There was no printing
C. Universities were closed
D. Travel was banned

Answer: B

Question 25. Which statement best explains the importance of printing?

A. It improved handwriting
B. It reduced travel
C. It transformed communication
D. It stopped oral teaching

Answer: C

Question 26. Printing changed the spread of knowledge primarily by making it:

A. Secretive
B. Slower
C. Personal and widespread
D. Restricted to elites

Answer: C

Question 27. Which group benefited most immediately from printed books?

A. Soldiers
B. Farmers
C. Students
D. Priests

Answer: C

Question 28. Printing helped humanist ideas because they were:

A. Visual
B. Easily reproducible
C. Oral
D. Religious

Answer: B

Question 29. The technology of printing entered Europe mainly through:

A. Religious missions
B. Military conquest
C. Trade and diplomacy
D. Monastic reforms

Answer: C

Question 30. The printing revolution explains why Renaissance ideas:

A. Stayed confined to Italy
B. Spread unevenly
C. Spread faster than earlier ideas
D. Disappeared quickly

Answer: C

Question 31. Which language dominated early printed classical texts?

A. Greek
B. Arabic
C. Latin
D. Italian

Answer: C

Question 32. Printing transformed books into:

A. Sacred objects
B. Rare items
C. Personal possessions
D. Government property

Answer: C

Question 33. The printing revolution mainly affected:

A. Architecture
B. Sculpture
C. Communication of ideas
D. Agriculture

Answer: C

Question 34. Which factor directly linked printing with humanism?

A. Use of paper
B. Spread of classical texts
C. Religious reform
D. Political power

Answer: B

Question 35. This passage highlights printing as a force behind:

A. Artistic realism
B. Political absolutism
C. Cultural expansion
D. Feudal decline

Answer: C