THEME - 5 THROUGH THE EYES OF TRAVELLERS
THROUGH THE EYES OF TRAVELLERS
- Al-Biruni’s “Kitab-ul-Hind”
- Ibn-Battuta’s “Rihla”
- Bernier’s comparison with European condition.
Al-Biruni and the Kitab-ul-Hind
- Al-Biruni – born in 973 in Khwarizm (present-day Uzbekistan).
- Sultan Mahmud attacked Khawrizm and took Al-Biruni to his capital Ghazni.
- Al-Biruni wrote “Kitab-ul-Hind” – known as “Tahkik-a-Hind”.
- Al-Biruni discussed several “barriers”.
- Al-Biruni’s description of the caste system.
Ibn-Battuta’s Travelling account – Rihla
- Ibn-Battuta’s Travelling account “Rihla” gives very interesting information of
social and cultural life of India.
- Ibn-Battuta – attacked by bands of robbers several times.
- Ibn-Battuta wrote that Indian agriculture was very productive.
- Ibn-Battuta’s was greatly amazed by the postal system.
Francois Bernier: comparison
with European condition
- François Bernier – a Frenchman -a doctor, political philosopher and historian.
- Bernier compared India with contemporary Europe.
- Bernier decisively wrote in his account “Travels in the Mughal empire”.
- Around 15% population in the 17th century lived in towns in India.
- Bernier called Mughal cities as “camp town”.
- Bernier’s description influenced western theorists like Montesquieu.
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