Match the LIST-I with LIST-II:
| LIST-I Travellers | LIST-II Descriptions | ||
| A. | Al-Biruni | I. | Travelled through North-Africa, West-Asia, Central-Asia |
| B. | Ibn Battuta | II. | Travelled to India at least six-times |
| C. | Francois Bernier | III. | Well-versed in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Sanskrit |
| D. | Jean-Baptiste Tavernier | IV. | A doctor, political philosopher and historian |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A - III, B - I, C - IV, D - II
(A) Al-Biruni — this matches (III) Well-versed in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Sanskrit. Born in Khwarizm (Uzbekistan) in 973, Al-Biruni received the best education of his time and was well versed in several languages: Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit. His knowledge of Sanskrit helped him write the Kitab-ul-Hind on India.
(B) Ibn Battuta — this matches (I) Travelled through North-Africa, West-Asia, Central-Asia. This Moroccan traveller spent several years travelling through north Africa, West Asia and parts of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent and China before returning home.
(C) Francois Bernier — this matches (IV) A doctor, political philosopher and historian. The Frenchman Bernier was a doctor, political philosopher and historian. He lived in India from 1656 to 1668 and was physician to Prince Dara Shukoh.
(D) Jean-Baptiste Tavernier — this matches (II) Travelled to India at least six-times. The French jeweller Tavernier travelled to India at least six times, drawn by its trading conditions.
NCERT (2025-26): “1.1 From Khwarizm to the Punjab … Al-Biruni was born in 973, in Khwarizm in presentday Uzbekistan. Khwarizm was an important centre of learning, and Al-Biruni received the best education available at the time. He was well versed in several languages: Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit. Although he did not know Greek, he was familiar with the works of Plato and other Greek philosophers, having read them in Arabic translations.… 2.2 The ‘enjoyment of curiosities’ … As we have seen, Ibn Battuta was an inveterate traveller who spent several years travelling through north Africa, West Asia and parts of Central Asia (he may even have visited Russia), the Indian subcontinent and China, before returning to his native land, Morocco. When he returned, the local ruler issued instructions that his stories be recorded. 3. François Bernier A Doctor with a Difference … Later, after 1600, we find growing numbers of Dutch, English and French travellers coming to India. One of the most famous was the French jeweller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who travelled to India at least six times. He was particularly fascinated with the trading conditions in India, and compared India to Iran and the Ottoman empire. Some of these travellers, like the Italian doctor Manucci, never returned to Europe, and settled down in India. François Bernier, a Frenchman, was a doctor, political philosopher and historian. Like many others, he came to the Mughal Empire in search of opportunities. He was in India for twelve years, from 1656 to 1668…” |