Through the Eyes of Travellers — Class 12 History PYQs

Al-Biruni's major work 'Kitab-ul-Hind' is significant for its comprehensive study of India. Which of the following was the primary aim of this work ?

Throughout his extensive travels, Ibn Batuta was able to explore unfamiliar cultures and societies. Which of the following competencies did he most likely develop ?

Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option from the following :
Column-I (Foreign Travellers)
a. Afanasi Nikitin
b. Domingo Paes
c. Abdur-Razzak
d. Nicolo de Conti
Column-II (Countries)
I. Persia
II. Russia
III. Portugal
IV. Italy
Options :
a b c d

Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow :
A warning for Europe
Bernier warned that if European kings followed the Mughal model :
Their kingdoms would be very far from being well-cultivated and peopled, so well built, so rich, so polite and flourishing as we see them. Our kings are otherwise rich and powerful; and we must avow that they are much better and more royally served. They would soon be kings of deserts and solitudes, of beggars and barbarians, such as those are whom I have been representing. (the Mughals)
.... We should find the great Cities and the great Burroughs (boroughs) rendered uninhabitable because of ill air, and to fall to ruine (ruin) without anybodies (anybody) taking care of repairing them; the hillocks abandon'd, and the fields overspread with bushes, or fill'd with pestilential marishes (marshes), as hath been already intimated.
32.1 Mention any one prominent contribution of Bernier.
32.2 How did Bernier describe the difference between European kingdom and the Mughal territories ?
32.3 Explain Bernier's views on the socio-economic status of people under Mughal rule.

In which of the following languages has Al-Biruni translated Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit texts in India ?

Among the following, whose description of 'degenerated East' inspired Western theorists to develop the idea of 'oriental despotism' ?

To whom among the following did François Bernier dedicate his writing "Comparing East and West" ?

During Ibn Battuta's travels in India, which prominent city did he visit and describe as 'a vast city, with a great population, the largest in India ?