Question 12 of 14intermediate🔧 ApplyDiagram5 marks

On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia. Trace the routes the travellers mentioned on p.176 would have taken to reach Vijayanagara.

Correct Answer

Marking Locations on the Map:

On the world outline map, the following countries should be marked approximately:

  1. Italy – Located in southern Europe.
  2. Portugal – Located in southwestern Europe, bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
  3. Iran (Persia) – Located in West Asia, to the northwest of the Indian subcontinent.
  4. Russia – Located in northern Eurasia, extending across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia.

Tracing Routes to Vijayanagara:

The travellers mentioned on p.176 who visited Vijayanagara include:

  1. Nicolo de Conti – An Italian trader who visited in the fifteenth century. The route would be traced from Italy, through the Mediterranean Sea, overland or by sea via West Asia, and then to the Indian subcontinent reaching Vijayanagara.

  2. Abdur Razzaq – An ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia (Iran) who visited in the fifteenth century. The route would be traced from Iran through overland routes crossing the northwest of the subcontinent, passing through northern India and reaching Vijayanagara in the south.

  3. Afanasii Nikitin – A merchant from Russia who visited in the fifteenth century. The route would be traced from Russia through Central Asia, crossing into the Indian subcontinent via land routes, and travelling south to Vijayanagara.

  4. Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz – Travellers from Portugal who came in the sixteenth century. The route would be traced from Portugal, sailing around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, reaching the western coast of India (Goa was conquered by the Portuguese in 1510), and then travelling overland to Vijayanagara.

All routes converge at Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, located in the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab in southern India.

Exercise: MAP WORK | Q: 10 | (Page 26)
For More Understanding

Explanation

This map-based question tests the student's understanding of the international connections of Vijayanagara. The textbook context clearly identifies travellers from Italy (Nicolo de Conti), Persia/Iran (Abdur Razzaq), Russia (Afanasii Nikitin), and Portugal (Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz). Students must locate these countries on a world map and trace routes to Vijayanagara. The routes reflect the trade and diplomatic connections of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Italian and Portuguese travellers likely used sea routes around Africa, while Persian and Russian travellers used overland routes through West and Central Asia respectively.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify and mark the four countries - Italy, Portugal, Iran, and Russia - on the world outline map.

  2. Step 2: Identify travellers from each region: Nicolo de Conti (Italy), Abdur Razzaq (Iran/Persia), Afanasii Nikitin (Russia), and Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz (Portugal).

  3. Step 3: Trace sea routes from Italy and Portugal around Africa to the western coast of India, then overland to Vijayanagara.

  4. Step 4: Trace overland routes from Iran through northwest India and from Russia through Central Asia to reach Vijayanagara.

  5. Step 5: Ensure all routes converge at Vijayanagara in the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab region of southern India.

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