How did the printing of religious texts in vernacular languages in affordable, portable formats transform rel…

Question

How did the printing of religious texts in vernacular languages in affordable, portable formats transform religious practice in nineteenth-century India? In what ways was this a departure from the traditions associated with hand-copied manuscripts?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Printed religious texts in vernacular languages were cheap and portable, making them accessible to ordinary people who could read on their own. This encouraged personal reading and individual interpretation of religious texts. In contrast, hand-copied manuscripts were expensive, fragile, and difficult to read due to varying scripts. They were not widely used in everyday life and were largely restricted to the elite. **Source:** Chapter 5, Section 6.1 – Manuscripts Before the Age of Print --- ## Explanation - The question is 2 marks, so keep to 2 clear contrasting points: impact of print **and** difference from manuscripts. - Draw directly from the passage: manuscripts were "highly expensive and fragile" and "not widely used in everyday life." Examiners look for these specific textual points. - Avoid lengthy elaboration — two tight points suffice for full marks.

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question