CBSE Class 12 History Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers - NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 12 PDF

CBSE Class 12 History Chapter 5, 'Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society,' explores the invaluable historical insights provided by foreign visitors to India. This chapter examines the detailed observations of travellers such as Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, and François Bernier, whose writings offer a unique lens through which to view Indian society, culture, and daily life across different eras. Their accounts shed light on social hierarchies, the vibrancy of urban centres, religious customs, and the general way of life, providing a crucial external perspective that both shaped and reflected contemporary understandings of India. By analyzing these primary sources, students can develop a deeper appreciation for historical interpretation and enhance their critical thinking abilities. The chapter encourages an understanding of how perceptions are formed and how they contribute to our knowledge of the past, making it a vital resource for grasping the complexities of Indian history through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand.

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Board	CBSE
Class	Class 12
Subject	Hiory
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter -5 Through the Eyes of Travellers Perceptions of Society

Chapter summary

Chapter 5, "Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society," focuses on the valuable historical insights provided by foreign travellers. This NCERT Solutions set covers key figures like Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, and Bernier, examining their detailed observations on Indian social customs, urban life, the caste system, and practices like Sati. The solutions help students understand how these travellers perceived and documented Indian society, offering a comparative perspective and highlighting the significance of their accounts for historical research.

Learning outcomes

Understand the significance of travellers' accounts in understanding historical societies.
Analyze the perspectives of Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, and Bernier on Indian society.
Compare and contrast the observations of different travellers regarding social practices and urban centres.
Evaluate the evidence provided by travellers on topics like slavery and the caste system.
Explain the elements of practices like Sati as observed by foreign travellers.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Kitab-ul-Hind by Al-Biruni
Ibn Battuta's travels and observations
François Bernier's account of Mughal India
Perceptions of Indian society by foreign travellers
Urban centres in 17th-century India
The practice of slavery in India
The practice of Sati
Al-Biruni's understanding of the caste system
Comparison of Indian and European societies
Social and economic life as described by travellers

Important topics

Travellers' perspectives on Indian society
Al-Biruni's analysis of the caste system
Bernier's critique of Mughal India
Ibn Battuta's observations on social customs
Evidence of slavery and Sati from travellers' accounts

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Questions and Solutions

I. Write a note on the Kitab-ul-Hind.

Write a note on the Kitab-ul-Hind.

Solution: Kitab-ul-Hind, also known as Tarikh-ul-Hind or Tahqiq-ma-ul-Hind, is a significant historical work written in Arabic by the scholar Al-Biruni around 1031 CE. The book is meticulously divided into 80 chapters, each beginning with a question, followed by a description based on Sanskrit traditions. Al-Biruni's work offers a comprehensive examination of Hindu religion, philosophy, festivals, customs, traditions, and the social, economic, and political life of the people of India. A distinctive feature of his writing is the comparative approach, where he often contrasted Indian culture with other civilizations. This structured methodology, characterized by precision and predictability, stemmed from Al-Biruni's strong mathematical orientation.

2. Compare and contrast the perspectives from which Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote their accounts of their travels in India.

Compare and contrast the perspectives from which Ibn Battuta and Bernier wrote their accounts of their travels in India.

Solution: Both Ibn Battuta and François Bernier provided valuable accounts of their travels in India, but their perspectives and approaches differed significantly. Ibn Battuta, a 14th-century Moroccan scholar, tended to describe everything that impressed and excited him due to its novelty. His writings often reflect a sense of wonder and detailed observation of new cultures, people, beliefs, and values he encountered. In contrast, Bernier, a 17th-century French physician and traveller, followed a different intellectual tradition. While he also recorded his observations, his perspective was often critical. Bernier sought to pinpoint the weaknesses he perceived in Indian society and frequently considered Mughal India to be inferior to European society, offering comparative analyses that highlighted perceived shortcomings.

3. Discuss the picture of urban centres that emerges from Bernier's account.

Discuss the picture of urban centres that emerges from Bernier's account.

Solution: François Bernier's account from the 17th century provides insights into the urban landscape of Mughal India. He noted that approximately 15% of the population lived in towns, a proportion comparable to western Europe at the time. Bernier characterized many Mughal towns as 'court towns,' meaning their existence and prosperity were heavily dependent on the presence and activities of the imperial court. These towns often emerged with the court and declined when it moved elsewhere. Bernier described several significant cities like Delhi, Mathura, Kashmir, Surat, Masulipatnam, and Golconda, highlighting their importance as manufacturing centres, trading hubs, and sacred sites. He also observed the significant influence of merchant communities, known as Mahajans in western India, who were organized through their caste and occupational bodies. The head of these merchant groups was often called Sheth, and in Ahmedabad, this leader was known as the nagarsheth. Beyond merchants, towns were also home to a diverse population including musicians, architects, painters, lawyers, and calligraphers.

4. Analyse the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn Battuta.

Analyse the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn Battuta.

Solution: Ibn Battuta's travelogue offers detailed evidence regarding the practice of slavery prevalent in India during his visit in the 14th century. He observed that the Delhi Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, maintained a large number of slaves. Many of these individuals were forcibly captured during military campaigns and aggressions. Due to extreme poverty, some people were compelled to sell their own children into slavery. Slaves were also frequently offered as gifts. Ibn Battuta himself presented the Sultan with horses, camels, and slaves. Furthermore, Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq is noted to have gifted two hundred slaves to a religious preacher named Nasiruddin. Nobles also kept slaves, who served multiple purposes. Some slaves were used to gather information about the activities of nobles and other important events within the empire, thereby acting as spies. Female slaves often served as domestic servants in the households of the wealthy and elite, and they too could inform the Sultan about their masters' affairs. Ibn Battuta noted significant differences in the status and roles of these slaves compared to those who served directly at the court.

5. What were the elements of the practice of sati that drew the attention of Bernier?

What were the elements of the practice of sati that drew the attention of Bernier?

Solution: François Bernier's account highlights several disturbing elements of the practice of Sati that captured his attention, particularly in contrast to the treatment of women in Western societies. He observed stark differences in how widows faced this ritual. Bernier noted that under this practice, an alive widow was forcibly made to sit on the funeral pyre of her deceased husband. He observed that many young widows were forcefully subjected to this act, sometimes screaming in protest, while some older women appeared resigned to their fate. A key element that drew his attention was the apparent lack of sympathy from the onlookers towards the victim. Most critically, Bernier emphasized that the widow was often an unwilling participant, forced into the practice against her will, making her a victim of coercion rather than a willing follower of custom.

6. Discuss Al-Biruni's understanding of the caste system.

Discuss Al-Biruni's understanding of the caste system.

Solution: Al-Biruni's understanding of the Indian caste system, as documented in his work, was shaped by his scholarly approach and his attempts to find parallels in other societies. He described the system based on his study of Sanskrit texts, which outlined a hierarchical structure. According to these texts, the highest caste was the Brahmins, believed to be created from the head of the Brahmin (Brahma). The Kshatriyas, created from the shoulders and hands, were the next highest. The Vaishyas, originating from the thighs, and the Shudras, from the feet, followed. Al-Biruni sought to contextualize this social division by noting that ancient Persian society was also divided into four social categories: knights and princes; monks; fire-priests, physicians, astronomers, and other scientists; and finally, peasants and artisans. This comparison led him to suggest that social divisions were not unique to India. However, despite accepting the existence of the caste system, Al-Biruni was critical of the concept of 'pollution' associated with it. He believed that according to natural laws, anything impure eventually becomes pure again, citing the sun clearing the air as an example. He found the notion of social pollution, a cornerstone of the caste system, difficult to reconcile with natural principles.

Common mistakes

Confusing the specific details or timelines of different travellers' accounts.
Failing to differentiate between the personal biases and objective observations in the travellers' writings.
Overlooking the socio-economic context that influenced the travellers' perceptions.
Not adequately comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of Ibn Battuta and Bernier.

Revision tips

Create a timeline of the travellers mentioned and their key observations.
Focus on understanding the unique perspective each traveller brought to their account.
Compare and contrast the descriptions of social practices like caste and Sati by different travellers.
Use the solutions to identify the specific evidence travellers provided for their claims.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following works is attributed to Al-Biruni?

Q2. Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveller, visited India during the reign of which Sultan?

Q3. François Bernier, a French traveller, viewed Mughal India as:

Q4. According to Bernier's account, what proportion of the population lived in towns during the 17th century?

Q5. Al-Biruni attempted to understand the Indian caste system by drawing parallels with:

Frequently asked questions

What is Kitab-ul-Hind and who wrote it?

Kitab-ul-Hind, also known as Tarikh-ul-Hind, was written by the scholar Al-Biruni in Arabic around 1031 CE. It provides a detailed account of Indian religions, philosophy, festivals, customs, and social, economic, and political life.

How did Ibn Battuta and Bernier differ in their perspectives on India?

Ibn Battuta described aspects that impressed him due to their novelty, focusing on new cultures and beliefs. Bernier, on the other hand, often highlighted the weaknesses of Indian society, considering Mughal India inferior to European society and focusing on his observations of its functioning.

What picture of urban centres emerges from Bernier's account?

Bernier described Mughal towns as 'court towns' dependent on the imperial court. He noted their importance as manufacturing and trading centres, the influence of merchant communities (Mahajans), and the presence of various professionals and artisans.

What evidence does Ibn Battuta provide about slavery in India?

Ibn Battuta documented that slavery was prevalent, with slaves often captured during aggressions or sold by impoverished parents. Slaves were also gifted and used for domestic work, with court slaves having a different status than household servants.

What aspects of the Sati practice drew Bernier's attention?

Bernier was struck by the forced nature of Sati, noting how child widows were sometimes compelled to burn alive on their husband's pyre, often screaming, while older women might be more resigned. He observed the lack of sympathy and the victim's unwillingness.

How did Al-Biruni understand the Indian caste system?

Al-Biruni described the caste system based on Sanskrit texts, dividing society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, created from different parts of the Brahmin. He also sought parallels in ancient Persian social categories and questioned the notion of social pollution.

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