Do you think Ibn Battuta’s account is useful in arriving at an understanding of life in contemporary urban centres? Give reasons for your answer.
There is no doubt that the description of Ibn Battuta is quite helpful in understanding the life-style of the Indian cities. His description seems as if the true picture emerges before our eyes.
(i) Ibn Battuta stated that Indian cities had many exciting opportunities. They were useful for those who had the necessary drive, skill and resources.
(ii) The Indian cities were densely populated. They were also prosperous. They had crowded streets. They had bright and colourful markets. They had a variety of goods.
(iii) According to Ibn Battuta, Delhi was a vast city. It had a lot of population. It was the largest city in India. Another big city was Daultabad in Maharashtra.
(iv) The markets and bazaars of the Indian cities were not only the places of the economic transactions but also the centres of social and cultural activities. Most of the bazaars had a mosque and a temple. They had also fixed places for public performances by dancers, musicians and singers.
(v) Ibn Battuta found that many towns derived their wealth and prosperity through the appropriation of surplus from villages.
(vi) According to Ibn Battuta, Indian agriculture was very productive. The farmers cultivated two crops a year because the land was very fertile.
(vii) The goods of India were in great demand in both West Asia and South-east Asia. So artisans and merchants earned huge profits. The sub-continent was well integrated with inter-Asian networks of trade and commerce.
