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Through The Eyes Of Travellers

Question
CBSEENHS12027100

Name the work written by Bernier. What did he write about sati system?

Solution

The name of the work written by Bernier is Travels in the Mughal Empire.

The description given by Bernier about Sati System:

He noted that while some women seemed to embrace death cheerfully, others were forced to die. Here we are quoting the description given by Bernier about the child sati at the time of his visit to India. According to several historians this is perhaps one of the most poignant descriptions by Bernier:

At Lahore, I saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, I think, have been more than twelve years of age. The poor little creature appeared more dead than alive

when she approached the dreadful pit. The agony of her mind cannot be described. She trembled and wept bitterly, but three or four of the Brahmanas, assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim towards the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive. I found it difficult to repress my feelings and to prevent their bursting forth into clamorous and unavailing rage.

Some More Questions From Through The Eyes Of Travellers Chapter

Write a note on the Kitab-ul-Hind.

Compare and contrast the perspectives from which Ibn-Battuta and Bernier wrote their accounts of their travels in India.

Discuss the picture of urban centres that emerges from Bernier’s account.

Analyse the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn-Battuta.

What were the elements of the practice of sati that drew the attention of Bernier?

Discuss Al-Biruni’s understanding of the caste system.

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.

Discuss the extent to which Bernier’s account enables historians to reconstruct contemporary rural society.

Read this excerpt from Bernier:

“Numerous are the instances of handsome pieces of workmanship made by persons destitute of tools, and who can scarcerly be said to have received instruction from a master. Sometimes they imitate so perfectly articles of European manufacture that the difference between the original and copy can hardly be discerned. Among other things, the Indians make excellent muskets, and gold fowling-pieces, and such beautiful gold ornaments that it may be doubted if the exquisite workmanship of those articles can he exceeded by any European goldsmith. I have often admired the beauty, softness and delicacy of their paintings.”

List the crafts mentioned in the passage. Compare those with the descriptions of artisanal activity in the chapter.

On an outline map of the world mark the countries visited by Ibn Battuta. What are the seas that he may have crossed?