THEME FIVE : THROUGH THE EYES OF TRAVELLERS

1. Write a note on Al-Biruni and the Kitab-ul-Hind

2. Why is Ibn Battuta referred to as globe-trotter?
3. Why was François Bernier referred as a doctor with a difference?
4. What were the barriers that obstructed Al Biruni's understanding of the sub
continent?
5. How did Al Biruni explain the caste system?
6. How did Ibn Battuta describe the Indian cities?
7. Why was the communication system in India considered unique by Ibn Battuta?
8. How did Bernier describe crown ownership?
9. What did Bernier accounts contain?
10. How did Bernier's description influenced western theorists?
11. How was the idea of oriental despotism further developed by Karl Marx?
12. What had Bernier described a complex social reality of the artisans under the
Mughals?
13. How did Bernier describe the Indian towns?
14. What were the condition of women in the subcontinent as projected in the
accounts by travellers?
15. Sometimes they took social inequities for granted as a "natural" state of affairs.
Explain.
16. Compare and contrast the perspective from which Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote
their accounts of their travels n India?
17. Analyse the evidence of slavery provided by Ibn Battuta.
18. Al Biruni accepted the Brahmnical explanation of the caste system but refused to
accept the notion of pollution. Why?
19. Explain the structure adopted by Al-Biruni in each chapter of his works.
20. Which were two major drawbacks of Al-Biruni’s account of India?