(HISTORY) THEME-5
THROUGH THE EYES OF TRAVELLERS
Perceptions of society
(C. Tenth to seventeenth century)
Key concepts in nutshell
- Al-Biruni was born in Khwarizm in present day Uzbekistan.
- Sultan Mahmud attacked Khwarizm and took Al-Biruni to his capital Ghazni.
- Al-Biruni wrote "Kitab-ul-Hind" also known as "Tahkik-a-Hind"
- Ibn-Battuta's travelling account "Rihla" gives a very interesting information of social
and cultural life of India.
- Ibn-Battuta was attacked by bands of robbers several times.
- Whatever Bernier saw in India, compared it with European condition.
- Al-Biruni discussed several "barriers".
- Ibn-Battuta's wrote that Indian agriculture was very productive.
- Ibn-Battuta was greatly amazed by looking at the postal system.
- Bernier critically wrote his account "Travels in the Mughal Empire".
- Around 15% population in 17th century lived in towns in India.
- Bernier called Mughal cities as "camp town", which were dependent upon imperial
protection for their survival.
- Bernier's description influenced western theorists like Montesquieu and Karl Marx.
OTQ (1MARKS)
Q1: Who was appointed as a qazi or judge of Delhi.
Ans: Ibn-Battuta.
Q2: Who was ordered to proceed to china as the Sultan’s envoy to the Mongol Ruler.
Ans: Ibn-Battuta.
Q3: Which French traveller travelled to India at least six times?
Ans: Travernier.
Q:4 What was the profession/ occupation of Travernier?
Ans: Jeweller.
Q5: What was the profession of Bernier?
Ans: He was a doctor, political philospher & historians.
Q6: Who was the doctor of Prince Dara Shikoh?
Ans: Bernier.
Q7: Which traveller finaly settled down in India?
Ans- Italian Doctor Manucci.
Q8: Description of Daulatabad was given by which traveller?
Ans: Ibn – Battuta .
Q.9 Name any two traveliers who came India during the medieval period (11th to 17th C.E.)?
Ans.
1. Al Biruni (11th Century) from Uzbekistan
2. Ibn-Battuta (14th Century) from North western Africa, Morocco.
Q.10 What was the Al-Biruni’s objective to come to India?
Ans. help those who want to discuss religious questions with them.
Q.11. Name the plant found in India which amazed Ibn-Battuta.
Ans.
Coconut – He wrote that the nuts of coconut resembles a man’s head.
Paan – He wrote about Paan that the betel has no fruit and is grown only for the
sake of his leaves... ( ANY ONE )
Q 12. When was Al-Biruni born.
Ans. Al-Biruni was born in 973 C.E..
Q.13.Name two Portuguese writers who came to India.
Ans.
- Jesuit Roberto Nobili - in 16th Cen.
- Duarte Barbosa
Q.14. Name of the book which is written by Al-Biruni .
Ans. Kitab-ul-Hind" also known as "Tahkik-a-Hind"
S. A. (3 Marks)
Q.15.What were the elements of the practice of Sati that drew the attention of Bernier?
Ans.
- According to Bernier, the treatment of women in western and Eastern societies has a lot of difference.
- Child widows were forcefully burnt screaming in agony.
- Duarte Barbosa - Wrote about trade & society of Southern India.
Q.16 .What does AL-Beruni write about the administration of justice in India?
Ans.
- Administration of Justice in India was as follows
- Crude and primitive in many ways - but also liberal and humane.
- Written complaints, cases were decided on the testimony of witnesses.
- Criminal Law was mild.
- Brahmanas were exempted from taxation and capital punishment.
Q. 17 Give any one feature of the writing of the foreign travellers to India during the medieval period.
Ans.
- To some extent, the personal prejudices and interests of the travellers colour the
versions given by them.
- In associating the historical data, the writer has to be extremely impartial.
- They wrote about social & cultural life in India during medieval period.
Q.18 .Mention any three shortcomings of Ibn-Battuta's account.
Ans.- He didn't take notes of everything which he saw daily.
- Many things out of his memory.
- He also wrote those things which he heard from his friends.
- So in his account one finds such terrible mistakes as "wrong routes" and
"wrong names" of the rulers.
Q.19 .How did Ibn Battuta describe Indian cities?
Ans.
- Indian Cities were densely populated.
- Very prosperous
- Streets were crowded.
- Markets were bright and colorful & had a variety of goods.
- The Market were the hub of social & cultural activities & economic transactions.
- They had both a mosque and a temple.
- They had spaces for public performers
Q.20.Compare and contrast the perspectives from which Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote their accounts of their travels in India.
Ans.
(a) Ibn Battuta'sperspectives -Narrative style.
Highlighted anything that was unfamiliar and different.
(b) Bernier's Perspective -
- He belonged to a different intellectual tradition.
- He was concerned with comparing and contrasting things in India with Europe.
- He emphasized the superiority of Europe.
- He perceived differences hierarchically and shows India inferior to the western world.
Q.21 .Analyze the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn Battuta.
Ans. Evidence for Slavery -
- Slaves were openly sold in Market.
- Different types of slaves.
- Female slaves in the service of Sultan.
- Slaves were used for different kind of domestic work.
- Female slaves were appointed to keep an eye on the nobles of the Sultan.
- It was tradition to present slaves as a gift.
Q.22. Write a note on Kitab-Ul-Hind.
Ans.- It's written by AL-Biruni in Arabic.
- It's simple, lucid and easy to understand.
- It has 80 chapters.
- Varied topics e.g. religion, philosophy to customs, social life, metrology.
- Most of chapters beginning with a Questions followed by a description and
concluded with a comparison with other culture.
Q.23. Describe the Social condition of India as described by Al-Biruni in the 12th Century.
Ans. Social Condition of India.
- Child marriage.
- Widows were not allowed to remarry.
- Practice of Sati was in vogue.
- Uncultured people were polytheists, but the cultured classes' believed in one
god.
- No one popular Religion of India at that time.
- About 42 religions in the country.
- Hinduism was divided into number of sects.
Q.24. According to Bernier, What were the evil-effect of the crown ownership of land?
Ans.
* Absence of ownership of land,
* landholders could not pass on their land to their children.
L. A. (8 Marks)
Q.25. Describe the extent to which Bernier's account enables historians to reconstruct contemporary rural society.
Ans.
- In the Mughal Empire all land was owned by the emperor.
- Lack of Private property.
- Crown ownership was disastrous for both economy and society.
- Land couldn't be inherited by their heirs.
- Land holders ignored the improvement in land.
- Resulted - decline in agricultural yields, oppression of the peasantry, decline in
living standards of all sections of society.
- There were only two classes - rich ruling class and poor class - no middle class
existed in India.
- Many European travellers were influenced by Bernier's view. But this presents an
erroneous picture.
Q.26. Discuss Al-Baruni's is understanding of the caste system.
Ans.- Caste System was influenced by Sanskrit texts.
- There were four Vernas i.e. Brahman, Kshatriya, vaishya and shudra.
- He pointed out about ancient Persian society which was also divided into four
categories.
- He was against the notion of pollution.
- According to the law of nature anything which becomes impure, ultimately becomes pure again.
- He realized that the caste system was not as rigid as portrayed in Sanskrit text.
- Untouchables were expected to provide inexpensive labour to peasants and
zamindars.
Resource Based Questions
Q.27..The bird leaves its nest
This is an excerpt from the Rihla:
My departure from Tangiermy birthplace, took place on Thursday ... I set out alone, having neither fellow traveller... nor caravan whose party I might join, buts wayed by an over mastering impulse within me and adesire long-cherished in my bosom to visit these illustrious sanctuaries. So Ibraced my resolution to quit all my dear ones, female and male, and forsook my homeas birds forsake their nests ...My age at that time was twenty-two years.
Ibn Battuta returned home in1354, about 30 years after he had set out.
(i) Who was Ibn Battuta? Which book did he wrote?
(ii) For how long did Ibn Batuta remain at the court of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq?
(iii) Name the countries which Ibn Battuta crossed before he came to India?
Ans. (i)- Ibn Batuta was a Moroccan traveller; He wrote a book called Rihla -
description of his journey.
Ans. (ii)- For eight years at the court of Tughlaq.
Ans. (iii)- Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, Persia, Oman, Eastern Africa, Mecca, Syria & reached Delhi in AD-1333.
Value Based Questions
Q. 28. Travels were more difficult and risky in 14th Century". Do you agree with the state?
Ans.Yes, because -
- Always danger of robbers.
- Travellers felt home sickness and fell ill.
Q.29. What were the main objectives of Bernier's writing behind the "Travels in the Mughal Empire?"
Ans. The main objectives of Bernier - To compare India with the European Conditions.
- Europeans may take correct decision regarding India.
- To highlight the Europeans Supremacy.
Q.30. With which objectives did the people travel?
Ans. Main objectives of people to travel.
- In search of job opportunities.
- To expand their trade.
- To escape from any threat of natural calamity.
- In form of Soldier and priest.
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