Class Notes

Class: XII Topic: Chapter-5. Through the Eyes of Travellers

Subject: HISTORY

NOTES:
Our knowledge of the past can be enriched through the ‘descriptions of social life provided by
travellers who visited the sub-continent. Generally, they recorded everyday activities and practices
of common men along with the descriptions of the kings. Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta and Francois Bernier
were three famous travellers who visited the sub-continent from 11th century to 17th century.
Al-Biruni and the Kitab-ul-Hind:

 Al-Biruni was born in 973, in Khwarizm in present day Uzbekistan. Khwarizm was an
important centre of learning, and Al-Biruni received the best education available at the time.
He was well versed in Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit.
 In 1017, when Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Khwarizm, he took several scholars and
poets as hostage to his capital and Al-Biruni was one of them. In Ghazni, Al-Biruni developed
an interest for India.
 When the Punjab became a part of the Ghaznavid Empire, Al-Biruni came to India and spent
years in the company of Brahmana priests and scholars, learning Sanskrit, and studying
religious and philosophical texts.
 He travelled widely in the Punjab and parts of northern India. He collected
various information and wrote a book called Kitab-ul-Hind.
 Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, written in Arabic, is simple and lucid. It is divided into 80 chapters
on subjects such as religion and philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners and
customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws and metrology.
 Al-Biruni adopted a distinctive structure in each chapter, beginning with a question, following
this up with a description based on Sanskrit traditions, and concluding the chapter with a
comparison with other cultures.
Problems or barriers obstructed Al-Biruni in understanding India.

 Al-Biruni, discussed several “barriers” that he felt obstructed in understanding India.

 The first amongst these was language. According to him, Sanskrit was so different from Arabic
and Persian that ideas and concepts could not be easily translated from one language into
another.
 The second barrier he identified was the difference in religious beliefs and practices.
 The self-absorption and consequent insularity of the local population constituted the third
barrier.
 He was aware of these problems so Al-Biruni depended almost exclusively on the works of
Brahmanas, often citing passages from the Vedas, the Puranas, Bhagavad Gita, the works of
Patanjali, the Manusmriti, etc., to provide an understanding of Indian society.

Al-Biruni and His description of the caste system

 According to Al-Biruni the highest caste is the Brahmana, who were created from the head of
 Brahman. The next caste is the Kshatriya, who were created from the shoulders and hands of
Brahman. After them the Vaishya, who were created from the thigh of Brahman? At last the
Shudra, who were created from his feet.
 As these classes differ from each other, they live together in the same towns and villages, mixed
together in the same houses and lodgings.
 Al-Biruni tried to explain the caste system by looking for parallels in other societies. He noted
that in ancient Persia, four social categories were recognized a) knights and princes; b) monks,
fire-priests c) lawyers, physicians, astronomers and other scientists; and d) peasants and artisans.
 He attempted to suggest that social divisions were not unique to India. At the same time he
pointed out that within Islam all men were considered equal, differing only in their observance of
piety.
 In spite of his acceptance of the Brahmanical description of the caste system, Al-Biruni
disapproved of the notion of pollution. As we have seen, Al-Biruni’s description of the caste
system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit texts which laid down the rules
governing the system from the point of view of the Brahmanas.

Ibn Battuta and His book Rihla

 Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan traveller. He was born in Tangier into one of the most
respectable and educated families. Ibn Battuta considered experience gained through travels
to be a more important source of knowledge than books.
 Before he come to India, he had made pilgrimage trips to Mecca, and had already travelled
extensively in Syria, Iraq, Persia, Yemen, Oman and a few trading ports on the coast of East
Africa.
 Ibn Battuta reached Sind in 1333. He had heard about Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of
Delhi. The Sultan was impressed by his scholarship, and appointed him the qazi or judge of
Delhi. He remained in that position for several years, until he fell out of favour and was
thrown into prison.
 Once the misunderstanding between him and the Sultan was cleared, he was restored to
imperial service, and was ordered in 1342 to proceed to China as the Sultan’s envoy to the
Mongol ruler.
 With the new assignment, Ibn Battuta proceeded to the Malabar Coast through central India.
From Malabar he went to the Maldives. He took a ship to Sumatra, and from there another
ship for the Chinese port town of Zaytun (now known as Quanzhou). He travelled extensively
in China, going as far as Beijing and returned home in 1347.
 Ibn Battuta’s book of travels, called Rihla, written in Arabic. His account is often compared
with that of Marco Polo, who visited China (and also India) from his home base in Venice in
the late thirteenth century.

Why was travelling more insecure in the medieval period according to Ibn Battuta?

 Ibn Battuta was attacked by bands of robbers several times. In fact he preferred travelling in a
caravan along with companions, but this did not deter highway robbers.
 While travelling from Multan to Delhi, his caravan was attacked and many of his fellow travellers
lost their lives; those travellers, who survived, including Ibn Battuta, were severely wounded.
 He suffered from home sick and in many places he was not welcomed by the people.
 Ibn Battuta and the Excitement of the Unfamiliar

1. The coconut –
Coconut trees looked like date palms. It resembles a man’s head. Inside of it looks like a brain. Its
fiber looks like human hair. Its fiber used for making rope which is used for pulling ships.

2. The paan-
Betel plant looked like grape plant. It is grown for the sake its leaves. People chew betel leaves with
areca nut and lime.

3. Indian cities

 Ibn Battuta found cities in the subcontinent full of exciting opportunities, resources and skills.
They were densely populated and prosperous, except for the occasional disruptions caused
by wars and invasions.
 Most cities had crowded streets and bright and colourful markets that were stacked with a
wide variety of goods. Ibn Battuta described Delhi and Daulatabad as vast cities, with a great
population, the largest in India.
 The bazaars were not only places of economic transactions, but also the hub of social and
cultural activities. Most bazaars had a mosque and a temple, and in some of them at least,
spaces were marked for public performances by dancers, musicians and singers.
 Ibn Battuta explains that towns derived a significant portion of their wealth through the
appropriation of surplus from villages because of the fertility of the soil, which allowed
farmers to cultivate two crops a year.
 He also noted that the subcontinent was well integrated with inter-Asian networks of trade
and commerce, with Indian manufactures being in great demand in both West Asia and
Southeast Asia, fetching huge profits for artisans and merchants. Indian textiles, particularly
cotton cloth, fine muslins, silks, brocade and satin, were in great demand.

4. A unique system of communication

Almost all trade routes were well supplied with inns and guest houses. Ibn Battuta was also amazed
by the efficiency of the postal system(by horse and human runners) which allowed merchants to not
only send information and remit credit across long distances, but also to dispatch goods required at
short notice.
5. Use of slaves-
 Slaves were openly sold in markets, like any other commodity, and were regularly exchanged as
gifts. When Ibn Battuta reached Sind he purchased “horses, camels and slaves” as gifts for Sultan
Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
 There was considerable differentiation among slaves. Some female slaves in the service of the
Sultan were experts in music and dance, and Ibn Battuta enjoyed their performance at the
wedding of the Sultan’s sister.
 Female slaves were also employed by the Sultan to keep a watch on his nobles. They were
generally used for domestic labour.
 Ibn Battuta found that men slaves were used for carrying rich women and men on palanquins
or dola.
 The price of slaves, particularly female slaves required for domestic labour, was very low, and
most families who could afford to do so kept at least one or two of them.
 Vacation Homework
Class: XII Subject: HISTORY

WORKSHEET.1.
CH- 1. Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilization.

MCQs.
Question 1
Which of the following items have not been found in the Harappan graves?
(a) Pottery and ornaments
(b) Iron and axe
(c) Jewellery
(d) Copper mirrors

Question 2.
Which of these is the other name of Harappan Civilisation?
(a) Aryan Civilisation
(b) Indus Valley Civilisation
(c) Vedic Civilisation
(d) All of these

Question 3.
Which of these sites of Harappan Civilisation belong to Haryana?
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Lothal
(c) Banawali
(d) Shortughai

Question 4.
Which of these is the feature of Harappan Civilisation?
(a) Urban planning
(b) Drainage system
(c) Citadel and Lower town
(d) All of these

Question5.
From where did Harappans get gold?
(a) South India
(b) Central India
(c) Himalayan Region
(d) Chotta Nagpur region

Question 6.
Which of these was the source of copper for Harappans?
(a) Karnataka
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Gujarat

Question 7.
Which of these was the cause of decline of Harappan civilisation?
(a) Climatic Change
(b) Floods
(c) Deforestation
(d) All of these

Question 8.
Which of these was not worshipped by the Harappan?
(a) Nature
(b) Goddess
(c) Indra
(d) Pashupatinath

Question 9.
Which of these is the other name of Harappan Civilisation?
(i) Aryan civilisation
(ii) Indus Valley Civilisation
(iii) Vedic Civilisation
(iv) Early Civilisation
(a) Only (i) and (ii) are true
(b) Only (i) and (iii) are true
(c) Only (ii) and (iv) are true
(d) Only (iii) and (ii) are true

Question 10.
Consider the following statement:
1. After independence, most of the Harappan civilisation centres went over to Pakistan.
2. The Harappan script has been deciphered.
3. Rulers had an important role in Harappan civilisation.
4. Dead were buried in Harappa.
Which of the above is correct statement?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Question 11.
Consider the following statements regarding Indus Valley civilisation:
1. The Harappan seal is probably the most distinctive feature of the Harappan civilisation.
2. Evidences of canal irrigation have been found at a site called Shortughai.
3. Mohenjodaro was a city laid in an unplanned manner.
4. Copper was brought from Kolar region of Karnataka.
Which of the given statements is/are incorrect?
(a) 1, 2, 3
(b) 3, 4
(c) 1, 2, 4
(d) 2,4

Question 12.
Which of the following things were found at craft production centres in Harappan civilisation?
1. Carnelian
2. Jasper
3. Crystal
4. Quartz
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3, 4
(c) 2, 3, 4
(d) 2, 4

Question 13.
Consider the following statements about the seals of Proto-Shiva.
1. There is a mention of a deity ‘Rudra’ in ancient religious texts.
2. Later on Rudra word was used for Shiva.
3. Rudra is not mentioned as Pashupati in Rigveda.
4. Depiction of Pashupati does not match the mention of Rudra in Rigveda.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 1, 2, 3
(c) 2, 3, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4

Question 14.
Study the image of Priest King from the Harappan Civilization and answer the question by choosing
the correct option:

The main reason why this stone statue was labelled as Priest king.
(a) Archaeologist got clues from Mesopotamian civilization where priest King was an important
figure.
 (b) This statue was discovered in large building found at Mohenjodaro.
(c) Study of Harappan inscriptions, where evidence of central authority under priest king is
there.
(d) It was excavated at various temple sites in different Harappan Cities.

CH- 1. Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilization.

(Very short answer type questions)

Q.1.Bones of which animals were found at Harappan sites?
Q.2. At which sites the terracotta models of the plough have been found?
Q.3. At which Harappan site, traces of canals have been found?
Q.4.Name two cities which were first to be found in Indus valley civilisation.
Q.5.Name few buildings found at Harappan sites.
Q.6.On which pattern, the roads and streets were laid out in Harappan cities?

Q 7.How many wells have found in Mohenjodaro?

Q 8.How can you say that Harappan people believed in the afterlife?
Q.9.Which material was used to make beads?
Q.10. From where copper and gold was brought?

WORKSHEET-2
CH-2. Chapter-2 Kings, Farmers and Towns(Early States and Economies)

Question 1.
Who deciphered Brahmi and Kharoshti scripts?
(a) James Princep
(b) Cunningham
(c) Wheeler
(d) John Marshall

Question 2.
How many Mhajanapads were there?
(a) 17
(b) 14
(c) 18
(d) 16

Question 3.
Which of these was the most powerful Mahajanapada from 6th to 4th century BCE?
(a) Kuru
(b) Magadha
(c) Panchala
(d) Gandhara

Question 4.
Who appointed Dhamma Mahamatras?
(a) Bimbisara
(b) Samudraupta
(e) Ashoka
(d) Pandya

Question 5.
Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Bindusara
(d) Ajatashatru

Question 6.
Sangam is a literature of _________ language.
(a) Tamil
(b) Malayalam
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Marathi

Question 7.
Harishena was the court poet of ________
(a) Samudragupta
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Ashoka
(d) Chandragupta Maurya

Question 8.
Consider the following statements about the Mauryan Empire:
1. There were 5 major political centres in the Empire.
2. Megasthenes wrote about the Mauryan Empire in his book Indica.
3. Ashoka founded the Mauryan Empire in 321 B.C.
4. Ashoka used his resources to propagate Buddhism.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(e) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4

CH-2. Chapter-2 Kings, Farmers and Towns(Early States and Economies)

(Very short answer type questions)
Q.1.What are megaliths?
Q 2. Why six century BCE often considered as a major turning point in Indian history?
Q.3. Define Dhamma Mahamatras?

Q. 4. Write any two sources of Mauryan history?

Q.5. In which languages and script, Ashokan scripts were written?