Peasants and Artisans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSo Al-Biruni suggested that the social divisions were not unique to India. He also stated that in Islam, all people were considered equal. \nDisapproval of the Notion of Pollution : Though Al-Biruni accepted the Brahmanical description of caste system yet he did not accept its notion of pollution. He believed that everything that is impure attempts to regain its original condition of purity. The Sun cleanses the air. The salt in the sea prevents the water from being polluted. Without this natural arrangement, according to Al-Biruni, life on earth would not have been possible. In fact, Al-Biruni considered the notion of social pollution as contrary to the laws of nature.<\/p>\n
The System of Four Varnas. Al-Biruni has also given an account of the system of Varnas in the Indian society. According to him, the following varnas were found: Brahmans. They belonged to the highest caste. They were created from the head of Brahma. So the Hindus consider them as the very best of mankind.<\/p>\n
Kshatriyas. They were also very important but below the Brahmans. They were created from the shoulders and hands of Brahma. \nVaishyas. They came at the third position as they were created from the thigh of Brahma. Fourth Varna. They stand at the bottom of social hierarchy. They were created from the feet of Brahma. There is not a big difference between the Vaishyas and Fourth varna. \nThus, we see that Al-Biruni\u2019s description of caste system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit Books. In fact the caste system was based on the rules framed by the Brahmans. But in real life, this system was not very rigid.<\/p>\n
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Question 7. \nDo you think Ibn-Battuta\u2019s account is useful in arriving at an understanding of life in contemporary urban centres ? Give reasons for your answer. \nOr \nExplain the observations of in Battuta about Indian cities with special reference to Delhi and its rampart round the city. \n(C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.)) \nOr \nExplain the observations of Ibn Battuta about the cities of India, with special reference to Delhi. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.)) \nOr \n\u201cIbn-Battuta found Delhi as a city full of exciting opportunities.\u201d Support your answer with evidences given by him. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D)) \nOr \n\u201cIbn-Battuta found cities in the Indian subcontinent full of exciting opportunities.\u201d Explain the statement I with reference to the city of Delhi.(C.B.S.E. 2018) \nAnswer: \nThere is no doubt that the description of Ibn- Battuta is quite helpful in understanding the lifestyle of the Indian cities. His description is quite clear and extensive. It seems as if the true picture emerges before our eyes. \n(i) Ibn-Battuta stated that Indian cities had many exciting opportunities. They were useful for those who had the necessary drive, skill and resources.<\/p>\n
(ii) The Indian cities were densely populated. They were also prosperous and had crowded streets. They had bright and colourful markets trading in a variety of goods. They were occasionally disturbed because of wars or invasions.<\/p>\n
(iii) According to Ibn-Battuta, Delhi was a vast city. It had a lot of population and was the largest city in India. Another big city was Daultabad in Maharashtra which challenged Delhi in size.<\/p>\n
(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 also had fixed places for public performances by dancers, musicians and singers.<\/p>\n
(v) Ibn-Battuta found that many towns derived their wealth and prosperity through the appropriation of surplus from villages.<\/p>\n
(vi) According to Ibn-Battuta, Indian agriculture was very productive. The farmers cultivated two crops a year because the land was very fertile.<\/p>\n
(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-Asia networks of trade and commerce.<\/p>\n
Question 8. \nDiscuss the extent to which Bernier\u2019s account enables historians to reconstruct contemporary rural society. \nAnswer: \nThe assessment of Bernier about the rural society of India was not correct. It was misleading and far from truth. But there is also some truth in his descriptions which is evident .from the following examples:<\/p>\n
(i) Bernier stated that in the Mughal Empire, the emperor owned all the land and distributed it among his nobles. This had a disastrous impact on the Indian economy and society.<\/p>\n
(ii) Bernier did not consider the system of the crown ownership of land good. Because of this, the land-holders could not pass on their land to their children. They could also not make any long-term investments. As there was no private property in land, there was not an improved class of landlords. This system ruined the whole of agriculture. It also led to the oppression of the peasants and lowered the living standards of all sections of society.<\/p>\n
(iii) Bernier\u2019s view of Indian society had the following features:<\/p>\n
\nIt had impoverished people. The rich people constituted a small minority.<\/li>\n It had only the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich. It had no middle class.<\/li>\n The Mughal king was the king of beggars and barbarians.<\/li>\n All the cities and towns were ruined. They had contaminated air.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThus, Bernier\u2019s descriptions of the Indian rural society brought out many social and economic differences. There\u2019were big Zamindars as well as landless labourers who were despised as the untouchables.<\/p>\n
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Question 9. \nRead this excerpt from Bernier. \n\u201cNumerous are the instances of handsome pieces of workmanship made by persons destitute of tools, and who can scarcely be said to have received instruction from a master. Sometimes they imitate so perfectly articles of European menufacture that the difference between the original and copy can hardly be discerned. Among other things, the Indians made excellent muskets, and fowling pieces, and such beautiful gold ornaments that it may be doubted if the exquisite workmanship of those articles can be exceeded by any European goldsmith. I have often admired the beauty,. softness, and delicacy of their paintings.\u201d List the crafts mentioned in the passage. Compare those with the descriptions of artisanal activity in the chapter. \nAnswer: \nThis excerpt mentioned the crafts of making muskets and fowling pieces and making beautiful gold ornaments. Indian artisans made them with great efficiency and delicacy. These products were so beautiful that even Bernier was amazed to see these products. He wrote that he doubted whether these articles can be exceeded by any European goldsmith.<\/p>\n
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Comparison : Other artisanal activities described in the chapter are given below: \nArtisans engaged in manufacturing carpets, brocades, embroideries, gold and silver goods, making shoes, carpentery, tailoring, painting, goldsmiths, varnishers, joiners, turners, manufactures of silk, brocade and fine muslins were the few artisanal activities described in this chapter. All these activities took place in royal Karkhanas. These artisans used to come every morning to the Karkhanas where they remained for the whole day. In the evening, they returned to their homes \n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Detailed, Step-by-Step NCERT Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 5 Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society Questions and Answers were solved by Expert Teachers as per NCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines covering each topic in chapter to ensure complete preparation. https:\/\/mcq-questions.com\/ncert-solutions-for-class-12-history-chapter-5\/ Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society NCERT Solutions for Class 12 …<\/p>\n
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 5 Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nNCERT Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 5 Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society - MCQ Questions<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n