Page 1 - Notes

Class 12 History Notes Chapter 5

Through the Eyes of Travellers

Class 12 History Notes Chapter 5 Through the

Eyes of Travellers Perceptions of Society

 Many foreign travellers visited India during medieval period. They came to India
for several motives.
 Most of the travellers who came to India wrote their accounts.
 The accounts of these travellers dealt with various aspects. Some travellers
accounts deal with the affairs of the court whereas few accounts are focussed on
religious issues.
 Some travellers create about the contemporary style of architecture and
monuments, whereas other depicts the social and economic life.
 The travellers who visited India presented the true picture of Indian civilisation in
their accounts.
 Al-Biruni, a great scholar of central Asia, came to India in the 11th century. He
arrived India during the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni.
 Al-Biruni was bom on 4 Sept. 973 at Khwarizm in Uzbekistan.
 Al-Biruni was well-versed in many languages. Languages such as Arabic, Persian,
Hebrew and Sanskrit were known to him.
 Al-Biruni‟s most outstanding work „Kitab-ul-Hind‟ was written in Ghazni and was
concerned India. It was also known as Tarikh-ul-Hind and Tahqiq-ma-lil-Hind.
 Al-Biruni has thrown a light on caste system prevailing in the Hindu society.
 According to Al-Biruni‟s description India‟s economic condition was very good.
 Al-Biruni‟s real name was Abu-Abdullah Muhammad. He was fond of travelling
and wanted to increase his knowledge by establishing his contact with the people
of different countries.
 He travelled thirty years of his life.
 The great traveller of Morocco died in 1377, but the account written by him „Rihla‟
is of immense wealth.
 After returning to Morocco in 1354 he (Ibn Battuta) was ceremoniously welcomed
by „Sultan‟, Abu Iram.
 Sultan Abu Iram appointed Ibijuzayy to help Battuta to compile his account „Rihla‟.
 Rihla was written in Arabic. In it describe whatever he saw in India.
 Undoubtedly Tlihla‟ is considered as an invaluable source of Indian History in the
14th century.
 Francois Bernier was a French traveller who came to India in 17th century.