13.

Transmitting Knowledge

Mind-Map of chapter

KEY WORDS/ GLOSSARY:

1. Script – a set of letters used to write a language.

2. Pulp – here, a substance obtained by crushing wood.
3. Impression – the mark made on a surface, such as paper, when an object is
pressed on it.
4. Pictographic Communication – communication by means of pictures and
drawings having a communicative aim.
5. Manuscript – a book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather
than typed or printed.
EXERCISES:
A. Choose the correct answer and fill in the blanks.

1. C. hieroglyphics 2. D. Germany

3. C. Chinese 4. B. India

B. State whether these statements are true or false.

1. True 2. True

3. True 4. False

5. False

C. Answer these questions.

1. Before language was invented, people used smoke signals to communicate. Drum beats were also
used for communication. Early humans drew pictures on the walls of caves to express themselves.
These pictures depicted their actions, thoughts and feelings.
2. A script is a set of letters used to write a language.
3. The Sumerians developed the first script. It was called Cuneiform script.

4. It is believed that once the early humans had started leading a settled life, they had some
difficulty in counting the animals domesticated by them. Initially, they used stones, sticks and
pebbles to keep count of the animals. Later on, these they replaced by dots, strokes and other
symbols. But this method of counting did not prove to be reliable. Soon, there was a need to have
a proper number system. In the olden times, people used to count on their ten fingers and this led
to development of the decimal system. This is how the number system came into existence.

5. Handwritten records had great value because they:

 were written by hand.
 existed in limited numbers.
 copied by hand again to make more copies.
 were expensive to buy.
 were purchased by very few people.

6. Braille script is a special script developed for the blind. It was developed by Louis Braille. This
script consists of raised dots on a paper which are 'read' by running the fingers lightly over them.

7. Once the printing press was introduced, handwritten records suffered greatly. The printing press
facilitated the mass production of books. This meant that multiple copies of the same book could be
printed in lesser time and at lower costs. A large section of the masses who could not afford to
purchase handwritten records could purchase cheaper copies of books of their choosing. Thus, the
invention of the printing press lowered the importance of handwritten records.
D. Think and Answer.

Before the printing press, knowledge spread orally or through expensive handwritten books.
The printing press made it possible to educate people faster than ever before. New ideas
and knowledge could be shared with more people than even the best teacher could hope to
reach in their lifetime.