Through the eyes of Traveller Test - 3

History (Histoire) in seventeenth-century French has a didactic role and crossover with genres normally associated with fiction (roman). Four French travellers (Francois Bernier, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Jean Thevenot, and Barthelemy Carre) shed light on the historiographical processes discussed in the Writing of History.

Marco Polo was the European traveller who visited both India and China during his famous journey. Born in Venice, Italy, in 1254, Marco Polo was a merchant and explorer who traveled extensively through Asia. His travels lasted for more than two decades, and his detailed accounts of the places he visited became one of the most important travelogues in history.

Assertion (A) is accurate because many Indian cities during Ibn Battuta's travels were indeed prosperous centers of trade, commerce, and culture. Cities like Delhi, Agra, and others were renowned for their wealth and economic activities.

Reason (R) is also correct because the prosperity of Indian cities often led to dense populations. The economic opportunities, cultural attractions, and strategic locations of these cities attracted people from various regions, resulting in densely populated urban centers.

Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Francois Bernier: He was a French traveler.

• He visited India during the reign of Shah Jahan.
• He was closely associated with the Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shikoh and later was attached to the court of Aurangzeb.
• He wrote the book 'Travels in the Mughal Empire'.

Absence of ownership of land, landholders could not pass on their land to their children. Thus they didn't take any interest in increasing production.

• It prevented the emergence of the "improving" landlords.
• It led to the ruination of agriculture.
• It brought a continuous decline in the living standard of all sections of society.
• It led to the excessive oppression of the peasantry.

The existence of an efficient postal system is described in the account of Ibn Battuta.

During his extensive travels, Ibn Battuta visited various regions, including parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, during the 14th century. In his travels through the Islamic world, including the Indian subcontinent, he encountered and documented various systems of governance, infrastructure, and societal structures.

Travellers compiled their accounts on a wide range of subjects, including:

• Affairs of the court: Many travelers documented their observations and experiences related to the courts of the rulers they visited. This could include descriptions of political structures, administrative systems, court rituals, and interactions with royalty and officials.

• Religious issues: Religion often played a significant role in the societies travelers encountered during their journeys. They documented religious practices, beliefs, institutions, and interactions between different religious communities.

• Architecture: Travelers frequently described the architectural marvels they encountered during their journeys. This could include palaces, temples, mosques, forts, tombs, and other structures of historical and cultural significance.

AI-Biruni discussed several "barriers" that he felt obstructed understanding. The first amongst these was language. The second barrier he identified was the difference in religious beliefs and practices. The self-absorption and consequent insularity of the local population according to him, constituted the third barrier.

Ibn Battuta was a Muslim Berber-Moroccan scholar, jurist, and explorer who travelled extensively throughout the Old World, primarily in the lands of Dar al-Islam. He travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, totalling around 117,000 kilometres, surpassing Zheng He's 50,000 kilometres and Marco Polo's 24,000 kilometres.

Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi, a diplomat from Herat, provided one of the most famous descriptions of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was a Persian explorer, historian, and Islamic scholar who travelled to Vijayanagara in the 15th century and wrote about the city's richness, architecture, and inhabitants.