If you are reading the traveller’s accounts, which of the following would be of Al-Biruni:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Explanation of the caste system by looking for parallels in ancient Persia.
Option (1) Explanation of the caste system by looking for parallels in ancient Persia. — Correct. Al-Biruni explained the caste system by looking for parallels in other societies; he noted that ancient Persia recognised four social categories, and so suggested that social divisions were not unique to India.
Option (2) Description of Delhi and Daulatabad (in Maharashtra) as vast cities. — Incorrect. This is Ibn Battuta’s account: he described Delhi as a vast city, the largest in India, and said Daulatabad easily rivalled it in size.
Option (3) Finding the lack of private property in India. — Incorrect. It was François Bernier who saw the lack of private property in land as a basic difference between Mughal India and Europe.
Option (4) Description of the coconut and the paan, two kinds of plant produced in Medieval India. — Incorrect. The coconut and the paan were described by Ibn Battuta, as plant produce completely unfamiliar to his readers.
NCERT (2026-27): “4.2 Al-Biruni’s description of the caste system … 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 recognised: those of knights and princes; monks, fire-priests and lawyers; physicians, astronomers and other scientists; and finally, peasants and artisans. In other words, he attempted to suggest that social divisions were not unique to India.… 5.2 Ibn Battuta and Indian cities … It appears from Ibn Battuta’s account that most cities had crowded streets and bright and colourful markets that were stacked with a wide variety of goods. Ibn Battuta described Delhi as a vast city, with a great population, the largest in India. Daulatabad (in Maharashtra) was no less, and easily rivalled Delhi in size.… 6.1 The question of landownership … According to Bernier, one of the fundamental differences between Mughal India and Europe was the lack of private property in land in the former. He was a firm believer in the virtues of private property, and saw crown ownership of land as being harmful for both the state and its people.…” |