Compare and contrast the perspectives from which Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote their accounts of their travels in India.
Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote from distinctly different perspectives. Ibn Battuta chose to describe everything that impressed and excited him because of its novelty. He was fascinated by the new experiences and sights he encountered in India.
In contrast, Bernier belonged to a different intellectual tradition. He was preoccupied with comparing and contrasting what he saw in India with the situation in Europe, particularly France. He focused on situations he considered depressing and described India as a bleak situation in comparison to Europe.
Bernier's objective was to influence policy-makers and the intelligentsia to ensure they made the "right" decisions. He dedicated his major writing to Louis XIV, the king of France.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook's comparison in section 6 'Bernier and the Degenerate East'. Ibn Battuta's perspective was one of wonder and excitement at novelty, while Bernier's was comparative and critical, aiming to influence European policy through his bleak descriptions of India.