Travellers of Medieval India MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Travellers of Medieval India - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Morocco.

• Ibn Battuta arrived in India during the rule of Muhammad Bin Tughluq.
  • ​He was a Muslim traveller who came to India from Morocco.
  • Riḥlah is the most famous work of Ibn Battuta.
  • Ibn Batutta wrote about the history of the famous Qutb complex, and also about Quwat al-Islam Mosque.

Additional Information

• Hieun Tsang
  • Hieun Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana with an aim of securing authentic Buddhist scripts.
  • The Kanauj assembly (643 AD) was held in the honour of Hieun Tsang and to popularise Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
  • He stayed in India for about fifteen years and recorded his experience in his book, 'Si-Yu-Ki’.
  • The book throws lights on the religion, customs, traditions, etc.
• Al Beruni
  • Al-Biruni came from Uzbekistan.
  • Al Biruni was the First Muslim Scholar to study India and its Brahmanical tradition.
  • He is called the father of Indology and the first anthropologist.
  • He is called one of the earliest and greatest polymaths of the Islamic World.
  • He was a Persian Scholar and polymath of the 11th century. He accompanied Mahmud in his conquests to South Asia.

The correct answer is - Mango was entirely grown by grafting

Key Points

• Historical context of Ibn Battuta's observations
  • Ibn Battuta, a renowned 14th-century Moroccan traveler, documented his observations of mangoes during his visit to India.
  • He described mangoes as being of the size of a large pear and noted their cultural and culinary significance in the region.
• Mango propagation methods during Ibn Battuta's time
  • In the 14th century, mangoes were primarily propagated by seeding, and grafting techniques were either not widely known or used sparingly.
  • Therefore, the statement that mangoes were "entirely grown by grafting" is incorrect.
• Eating habits related to mangoes
  • Ibn Battuta observed that people ate mangoes by either cutting them with a knife or sucking the pulp, which is consistent with traditional practices still followed today.

Additional Information

• Mango propagation techniques
  • Mango propagation involves two primary methods: seeding and grafting.
  • Seeding: Commonly used in earlier times, this method involves planting mango seeds directly to grow trees. However, the fruits produced are not always true to the parent variety.
  • Grafting: A more advanced technique that ensures the new plant inherits the desired traits of the parent plant. This method became popular in later centuries for commercial mango cultivation.
• Ibn Battuta's travel records
  • Ibn Battuta's travelogue, "Rihla," provides a detailed account of his experiences and observations of various cultures, foods, and practices, making it a valuable historical document.
  • His description of mangoes highlights the fruit's prominence in Indian society and cuisine during the 14th century.
• Mango's cultural significance
  • Mangoes are considered the "King of Fruits" in India and hold cultural, religious, and culinary importance.
  • The fruit has been cultivated in India for thousands of years and continues to be a symbol of abundance and prosperity.

The correct answer is - Burhanpur and Ahmedabad

Key Points

• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveler and jeweler, wrote extensively about his travels in India during the 17th century.
• He described two specific routes connecting Surat and Agra, highlighting trade and travel networks of the era.
• The route via Burhanpur and Ahmedabad was considered significant for its accessibility and economic importance:
  • Burhanpur was a major Mughal trade center known for textiles and commerce.
  • Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat, was famous for its thriving textile industry and trade connections.
• The other route mentioned by Tavernier connected Surat to Agra via Burhanpur and Sironj, reflecting alternative paths used during the Mughal period.
• Understanding these routes provides insights into the Mughal Empire's trade networks and the importance of regional centers in facilitating economic activities.

Additional Information

• Mughal Trade Routes
  • Trade routes during the Mughal period were critical for the movement of goods such as spices, textiles, and precious stones.
  • Surat, located in Gujarat, was a prominent port city and a hub for international and domestic trade.
  • Agra, the capital of the Mughal Empire, was an important political and economic center with connections to major cities.
• Role of Burhanpur
  • Burhanpur served as a strategic location on trade routes connecting northern and southern India.
  • It was well-known for producing high-quality textiles, especially muslin.
• Role of Ahmedabad
  • Ahmedabad was a major commercial center during the Mughal period, with its textile industry catering to both local and international markets.
  • It served as a key node in trade routes connecting western India to the Mughal heartland in the north.
• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier's Contributions
  • Tavernier's accounts provide valuable information about the economic and social conditions of Mughal India.
  • His observations are regarded as critical historical sources for understanding 17th-century trade and travel dynamics.

The correct answer is - Russian

Key Points

• Athanasius Nikitin
  • He was a Russian traveler who explored various regions, including India, during the 15th century.
  • Nikitin's travel accounts are considered one of the earliest European descriptions of India and its culture.
  • He traveled to India between 1466 and 1472, during which he documented his observations about the economy, society, and religious practices of the region.
• Significance of Athanasius Nikitin
  • His journey was unique because it provided insights into medieval Indian life from a European perspective.
  • His travelogue, titled "The Journey Beyond Three Seas" (in Russian: Khozheniye za tri morya), is an important historical document.
  • His writings highlight the trade relations between Russia and India during that era.

Additional Information

• Other Notable Travelers to India
  • Marco Polo: An Italian traveler who visited India in the late 13th century and described the southern regions in detail.
  • Fa-Hien: A Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 5th century to study Buddhist scriptures.
  • Al-Biruni: A Persian scholar and historian who documented Indian culture, science, and religions in the 11th century.
• Trade Relations Between Russia and India
  • During the 15th century, trade routes between Russia and India were established through intermediaries like Persia and Central Asia.
  • Athanasius Nikitin's journey reflects the growing interest in trade and cultural exchange between the two regions.
  • His accounts provide valuable information about the goods traded, such as spices, textiles, and precious stones.

The correct answer is Ibn Batuta.

Key Points

• Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah Lawal-ut-Tangi ibn Batuta also known as Ibn Batuta.
• He was a Moroccan traveler.
• He was a contemporary of the court of Muhammad-bin-Tughlag.
• He was appointed as Qazi (Judge) of Delhi by Muhammad-bin-Tughlag.
• He provided us with information about the life of people during the period of Muhammad-bin-Tughlag.
• Also, his books inform us about the reason for the transfer of capital from Delhi to Devagiri.
• He authored the famous book Rihlah in the Arabic language.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Francois Bernier.

Key Points

Francois Bernier (1656 A.D. – 1717 A.D.)

• He was a French physician and traveller.
• Francois Bernier was briefly personal physician to Mughal prince Dara Shikoh and later on to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Hence option 3 is correct.
• "Travels in the Mughal Empire" was written by Francois Bernier.
• The book mainly talks about the rules of Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb.
• He wrote in the book that there was no private property in land in Mughal India.

The correct answer is Mohammad Bin Tughlaq.

Key Points

• Ibn Battuta visited India during the rule of Mohammed Bin Tughlaq.
• Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan traveller.
• Rihla was a book written by Ibn Batuta.
• Rihla is a travelogue based upon the experiences of the travellers.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Al-Biruni.

• Al-Biruni is a traveller who came to India from Uzbekistan in the 11th century.

Key Points

•  Al-Biruni was a Khwarazmian Iranian scholar and polymath during the Islamic golden age.
• He is well versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy, natural science.
• Work: Kitab-al-Tafhim.

Important Points

The correct answer is Venice.

Key Points

• Marco Polo, born in 1254, in Venice, Italy.
• He was a Venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from Europe to Asia in 1271–95.
• During this period, he remained in China for 17 years.
• 'Travels of Marco Polo', is classic travel literature written by Marco Polo itself.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Hsuan Tsang.Key Points

• The Chinese traveller who visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana was Hsuan Tsang, also known as Xuanzang.
• He came to India in the 7th century and stayed here for 14 years, during which he travelled extensively and wrote about his experiences in his book "The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions".
• Hsuan Tsang was a Buddhist monk and his main purpose of visiting India was to study Buddhism and collect Buddhist texts.
• He visited many important Buddhist sites in India, including Bodh Gaya, where he meditated under the Bodhi tree and studied Buddhist philosophy under the guidance of a famous Indian monk, Shilabhadra.

Additional Information

• The other options mentioned in the question are not relevant to the reign of Harshavardhana.
• Faxian was a Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India in the 5th century.
• Etsing is not a known Chinese traveller, and Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan explorer who visited India in the 14th century.
• Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

The Correct Answer is Abdur Razzaq.

Key Points

• Domingo Paes:
  • He was a Portuguese traveller. 
  • He visited Vijayanagara Empire around the year 1520, during the Krishnadevaraya rule.
  • The physical description of Krishnadevaraya was made by him.
  • He describes Krishna Deva Raya as not too tall, quite stout, round-faced, and of cheerful temperament mostly. 
• Nuniz:
  • He was a Portuguese traveller.
  • He visited the Vijayanagar Empire during the reign of Achyuta Raya.
• Abdur Razzaq:
  • He was a Persian scholar and traveller.
  • He visited the Vijaynagar Kingdom during the rule of Deva Raya II as an ambassador of Shah Rukh, the Timurid dynasty ruler of Persia.
• Nicolo de Conti:
  • He was an Italian scholar and traveller.
  • He visited the Vijayanagar kingdom during the reign of Deva Raya-I.

The correct answer is Morocco.

Key Points

• Ibn Battuta a famous traveler was a native of Morocco. 
  • He came from Morocco in the 14thC.
  • He wrote a book on his traveling in Arabic literature called Rihla, indicating a journey in search of divine knowledge. 
  • In 1334, Ibn Battuta arrived in India all the way through the mountains of Afghanistan during the time of the Tughlaq dynasty.
  • He was a Muslim Moroccan scholar and explorer who traveled extensively in Afro-Eurasia.
  • He came to Delhi in 1334, he acted as the Qazi of the capital for 8 years.

Additional Information

• Different Travellers:

The correct answer is Morocco.

Key Points 

• Ibn Battuta (born February 24, 1304, Tangier, Morocco—died 1368/69 or 1377, Morocco), the greatest medieval Muslim traveller and the author of one of the most famous travel books, the Riḥlah (Travels).
• His great work describes his extensive travels covering some 75,000 miles (120,000 km) in trips to almost all of the Muslim countries and as far as China and Sumatra (now part of Indonesia).

Additional Information

• The full name of Ibn Battuta was Muhammad Ibn Battuta.
  • He was born on February 25, 1304, in the medieval era in an Islamic family.
  • By profession, he was a Geographer, Jurist, Judge, and Explorer.
  • His travelling left out an exclusive note on the Tughlaq dynasty.
• Arrival in India:
  • In 1334, Ibn Battuta arrived in India all the way through the mountains of Afghanistan, during the time when the Tughlaq dynasty was at its height.

The correct answer is a-1, b-2, c-3, d-4.

Key Points

• Al-Biruni :
  • Al-Biruni was born in 973, in Khwarizm in present-day Uzbekistan. 
  • He was well versed in several languages: Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and, Sanskrit.
  • Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, written in Arabic. It is a voluminous text on subjects such as religion and philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws, and metrology.
• Ibn Battuta :
  • Ibn Battuta’s book of travels, called Rihla, written in Arabic, provides extremely rich and interesting details about the social and cultural life in the
    subcontinent in the fourteenth century.
  • This Moroccan traveler was born in Tangier into one of the most respectable and educated families known for their expertise in Islamic religious law or shari‘a.
• François Bernier :
  • François Bernier, a Frenchman, was a doctor, political philosopher, and historian.
  • He came to the Mughal Empire in search of opportunities. He was in India for twelve years, from 1656 to 1668, and was closely associated with the Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan, and later as an intellectual and scientist, with Danishmand Khan, an Armenian noble at the Mughal court.
  • He compared the cultures of East and West.
• Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi :
  • One of the most important descriptions of the city of Vijayanagara in the fifteenth century comes from Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi, a diplomat who came visiting from Herat.

The correct answer is Devaraya I.

• During the reign of Devraya I, Nikoli Conti came to India.
• Nikoli Conti was an Italian traveller who came during the 15th century.
• Devraya I was the king of Vijay Nagar empire.