Question
Why did debates and discussions about social customs and practices take on a new character?
Solution
The reasons are:
(i)One important reason for this was the development of new forms of communication. For the first time, books, newspapers, magazines, leaflets and pamphlets were printed.
(ii)These were far cheaper and far more accessible than the manuscripts. Therefore ordinary people could read these, and many of them could also write and express their ideas in their own languages.
(iii)All kinds of issues – social, political, economic and religious – could now be debated and discussed by men (and sometimes by women as well) in the new cities. The discussions could reach out to a wider public, and could become linked to movements for social change.
