The Poor Peasant

An excerpt from Bernier’s description of the peasantry in the countryside : 'Of the vast tracts of country constituting the empire of Hindustan, many are little more than sand, or barren mountains, badly cultivated and thinly populated. Even a considerable portion of good land remains untilled for want of labourers, many of whom perish in consequence of the bad treatment they experience from Governors. The poor people, when they become incapable of discharging the demands of their rapacious lords, are not only often deprived of the means of subsistence, but are also made to lose their children, who are carried away as slaves. Thus, it happens that the peasantry, driven to despair by so excessive a tyranny, abandon the country.'

In this instance, Bernier was participating in contemporary debates in Europe concerning the nature of state and society, and intended that his description of Mughal India would serve as a warning to those who did not recognise the ‘merits' of private property. Questions:

1. What were the problems about cultivating the land, according to Bernier?

2. Why did the peasantry abandon the land?

3. Explain he reasons given by Bernier for the exploitation of the peasants.

4. How did his observations influence thinkers in Europe? Explain.