How does Bernier depict a scenario of doom? Once you have read Chapters 8 and 9, return to this description and analyse it again.
Bernier depicts a scenario of doom by portraying the Mughal Empire in extremely negative terms. He describes the Mughal king as the king of "beggars and barbarians" whose cities and towns were ruined and contaminated with "ill air". The fields were "overspread with bushes" and full of "pestilential marishes".
Bernier attributed this dismal condition to one fundamental cause: crown ownership of land. He warned European rulers that if they followed the Mughal model, their kingdoms would soon become deserts and solitudes. His description was intended as a warning for Europe about the dangers of not recognizing the "merits" of private property.
Bernier was participating in contemporary European debates concerning the nature of state and society, using Mughal India as a contrasting example to advocate for private property rights.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which describes Bernier's negative portrayal of the Mughal Empire. It covers the three key aspects: (1) the specific imagery of doom - beggars, barbarians, ruined cities, ill air, pestilential marshes; (2) the cause - crown ownership of land; and (3) Bernier's purpose - warning Europe about the consequences of not having private property. The context explicitly states that Bernier was participating in contemporary debates in Europe and intended his description as a warning. The word count is appropriate for a 3-mark short answer question.