Historians argue that Bernier drew an oversimplified picture of Mughal towns, which were of many kinds. Of what was the existence of these towns an index?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The prosperity of merchant communities and professional classes
Option (1) The prosperity of merchant communities and professional classes — Correct. Many kinds of towns stood on trade, crafts and services. So their existence is an index of the prosperity of merchant communities and professional classes.
Option (2) The strength of the imperial nobles and their troops — Incorrect. This is close to Bernier's own view that towns lived on the court. Historians reject it for most towns.
Option (3) The power of zamindars and village headmen — Incorrect. Zamindars and village headmen belonged to the countryside. The growth of towns is not read as a measure of their power.
Option (4) The wealth of religious leaders at sacred centres — Incorrect. Sacred centres were only one kind of town among many. Their existence is not taken as a sign of the wealth of religious leaders.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.2 A more complex social reality … “As in the case of the question of landownership, Bernier was drawing an oversimplified picture. There were all kinds of towns: manufacturing towns, trading towns, port-towns, sacred centres, pilgrimage towns, etc. Their existence is an index of the prosperity of merchant communities and professional classes.” |