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Through The Eyes Of Travellers
Examine why Bernier was against the idea of crown ownership of land in Mughal India.
Bernier’s idea of Crown ownership in Mughal India:
(i) He believed in the virtues of Private Property.
(ii) He saw crown ownership of land as being harmful for both the state and the people.
(iii) Land holders could not pass on their land to their children
(iv) They were averse to long term investment expansion of production.
(v) The absence of Private property prevented the emergence of class of improving landlords.
(vi) It had led to uniform ruination of agriculture.
(vii) Excessive oppression of the peasantry and decline in the standard of living.
(viii) He warned that if European kings followed the Mughal model their kingdoms would be very far from being well cultivated and peopled.
(ix) It has led to impoverishment of the peasantry.
(x) There was no middle state in India.
(xi) He saw the Mughal Emperors as the “king of the Beggars and the Barbarians”.
(xii) He considered revenue as the rent because land revenue demands were often very high.
(ANY TWO)
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On an outline map of the world mark the countries visited by Ibn Battuta. What are the seas that he may have crossed?
For any one of the travellers mentioned in the chapter, find out more about his life and writings. Prepare a report on his travels, noting in particular how he described society, and comparing these descriptions with the excerpts included in the chapter.
How had Bernier described a complex social reality of the artisans under the Mughals. Give any one reason.
Name the book written by Al-Biruni. Mention its language and content.
Give a brief introduction of Francois Bernier. How long he remained in India?
Name the two women poet-saints of Tamil Nadu. Whom did they worship?
Mention Bernier’s views about private property and crown ownership of land.
Mention any two characteristics of the cities in the Indian sub-continent, as described by Ibn-Battuta.
Give two examples to show that Indian cotton textiles were in great demand in West and South Asia.
Name any four travellers who visited the sub-continent between 10th to 17th century. From where had they come?
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