Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society
Class 12 · History · 25 Questions
Read the excerpt from Al-Biruni (Source 5) and discuss whether his work met these objectives.
If Al-Biruni lived in the twenty-first century, which are the areas of the world where he could have been easily understood, if he still knew the same languages?
Compare the objectives of Al-Biruni and Ibn Battuta in writing their accounts.
There is a very rich travel literature in Indian languages. Find out about travel writers in the language you use at home. Read one such account and describe the areas visited by the traveller, what s/he saw, and why s/he wrote the account.
How important is knowledge of the language of the area for a traveller from a different region?
Why do you think this attracted Ibn Battuta's attention? Is there anything you would like to add to this description?
Do you think the foot-post system could have operated throughout the subcontinent?
How did Ibn Battuta handle the problem of describing things or situations to people who had not seen or experienced them?
What, according to Bernier, were the problems faced by peasants in the subcontinent? Do you think his description would have served to strengthen his case?
How does Bernier depict a scenario of doom? Once you have read Chapters 8 and 9, return to this description and analyse it again.
In what ways is the description in this excerpt different from that in Source 11?
How does Bernier convey a sense that although there was a great deal of activity, there was little progress?
Why do you think scholars like Bernier chose to compare India with Europe?
Write a note on the Kitab-ul-Hind.
Compare and contrast the perspectives from which Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote their accounts of their travels in India.
Discuss the picture of urban centres that emerges from Bernier's account.
Analyse the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn Battuta.
What were the elements of the practice of sati that drew the attention of Bernier?
Discuss Al-Biruni's understanding of the caste system.
Do you think Ibn Battuta's account is useful in arriving at an understanding of life in contemporary urban centres? Give reasons for your answer.