Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Medieval India: Through the Eyes of Travellers

Question:

Which of the following statement is correct about the account of French doctor François Bernier of India's condition he witnessed during his travel to India?

Options:

He was far more preoccupied with comparing and contrasting what he saw in India with the situation in Europe in general and France in particular, focusing on situations which he considered depressing.

He constantly compared Mughal India with contemporary Europe, generally emphasising the superiority of the latter.

His representation of India works on the model of binary opposition, where India is presented as the inverse of Europe.

All of the above

Correct Answer:

All of the above

Explanation:

If Ibn Battuta chose to describe everything that impressed and excited him because of its novelty, François Bernier belonged to a different intellectual tradition. He was far more preoccupied with comparing and contrasting what he saw in India with the situation in Europe in general and France in particular, focusing on situations which he considered depressing. He constantly compared Mughal India with contemporary Europe, generally emphasising the superiority of the latter. His representation of India works on the model of binary opposition, where India is presented as the inverse of Europe. He also ordered the perceived differences hierarchically, so that India appeared to be inferior to the Western world.