A historian uses Ibn Battuta's account to learn about towns in the subcontinent. Which of the following observations would she find in it?
(A) Delhi was a vast city with a great population, the largest in India.
(B) Daulatabad in Maharashtra easily rivalled Delhi in size.
(C) Cities were thinly populated and prosperous, except for disruptions caused by wars and invasions.
(D) Most cities had crowded streets and bright, colourful markets stacked with a wide variety of goods.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A, B and D only
(A) Delhi was a vast city with a great population, the largest in India. — Correct. Ibn Battuta called Delhi a vast city with a great population, the largest in India.
(B) Daulatabad in Maharashtra easily rivalled Delhi in size. — Correct. Daulatabad was no less than Delhi and easily rivalled it in size.
(C) Cities were thinly populated and prosperous, except for disruptions caused by wars and invasions. — Incorrect. One word is changed. Ibn Battuta found the cities densely populated and prosperous, apart from occasional disruptions by wars.
(D) Most cities had crowded streets and bright, colourful markets stacked with a wide variety of goods. — Correct. His account shows crowded streets and colourful markets full of many kinds of goods.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.2 Ibn Battuta and Indian cities |