Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Origins in East Asia:
Print technology began in China, where hand printing on textile and later paper was practised. The Chinese invented block printing and also the world's first movable type system.

Journey to Europe — Gutenberg's Press:
By 1448, Johann Gutenberg perfected the mechanical printing press in Europe, drawing on existing technologies — the olive press served as the model, and metal moulds were adapted to cast movable type for the 26 Roman letters. The first book printed was the Bible (about 180 copies in three years). By 1450–1550, printing presses spread across Europe, producing 20 million copies; by the sixteenth century this rose to 200 million.

Transformation of Knowledge:

• Books became cheaper and faster to produce, reaching a wider readership.
• A new reading public emerged alongside the existing oral culture.
• Publishers printed popular ballads and folk tales with illustrations, blending oral and print cultures.
• Print changed people's relationship with information, institutions, and authority.

Source: Chapter 5 — Print Culture and the Modern World, Sections 2.1 and 3.1

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Examiners look for: (1) origin in East Asia mentioned briefly, (2) Gutenberg's contribution with specific details (metal movable type, olive press model, Bible), (3) the rapid spread across Europe with the statistics given (20 million / 200 million), and (4) social impact — new reading public, cheaper books, oral-print culture mixing. Keep statistics precise — they earn easy marks. Avoid padding; five crisp points across two paragraphs is ideal for 5 marks.