🏛️ CBSE SAMPLE PAPER – HISTORY (CLASS XII)

Course B – Chapter 1: Through the Eyes of Travellers (Perceptions of Society)

Maximum Marks: 30 (Full Chapter-based Test)
Time: 1½ Hours
(All Questions are Compulsory)

SECTION – A (Very Short Answer Type)

(1 mark each × 5 = 5 marks)

Q1. Who was Al-Biruni and what was his major contribution to Indian studies?

Answer:
Al-Biruni was a Persian scholar from Central Asia who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni. His major contribution was the book “Kitab-ul-Hind”, which gives a scientific and comparative study of Indian religion, philosophy, society, and science.

Q2. What does the term “Rihla” mean?

Answer:
The term “Rihla” means “journey” or “travel account.” It was the name of the famous travelogue written by Ibn Battuta describing his travels through Africa, Arabia, India, and China.

Q3. Name the Mughal emperor during whose reign François Bernier visited India.

Answer:
François Bernier visited India during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb (17th century).

Q4. Mention one major observation of Ibn Battuta about Indian cities.

Answer:
Ibn Battuta observed that Indian cities such as Delhi and Calicut were densely populated, prosperous, and full of trade and commercial activity.

Q5. Which social practice did both Al-Biruni and Bernier criticize?

Answer:
Both Al-Biruni and Bernier criticized the Sati system, where a widow burnt herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.

SECTION – B (Short Answer Type)

(3 marks each × 5 = 15 marks)

Q6. Explain the main features of Al-Biruni’s work Kitab-ul-Hind.

Answer:

1. Written in Arabic, it is a detailed study of India’s religion, science, and customs.
2. Based on Sanskrit texts, field observations, and discussions with scholars.
3. Follows a comparative and scientific approach, comparing Indian thought with Greek and Islamic traditions.
4. Highlights Indian achievements in astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy.
5. Critiques the rigidity of the caste system and lack of social mobility.

Q7. Describe Ibn Battuta’s impressions of Indian administration under Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Answer:

1. Ibn Battuta worked as a Qazi (judge) in Tughlaq’s court.
2. He found the Sultan to be intelligent but harsh and unpredictable.
3. The administration was centralized with strong espionage and postal systems.
4. Justice was strict, and punishments were often severe.
5. Despite this, governance was efficient and communication across the empire was maintained.

Q8. Discuss Bernier’s view of the Mughal land system and its comparison with Europe.

Answer:

1. Bernier criticized the absence of private property in Mughal India.
2. He believed all land belonged to the emperor, making peasants poor and unproductive.
3. Compared to European feudalism, where nobles owned hereditary land, he saw India as economically stagnant.
4. His analysis reflected Eurocentric biases, portraying India as “backward.”

Q9. What did travellers like Ibn Battuta and Bernier write about the position of women in Indian society?

Answer:

1. Ibn Battuta noted that women in some regions, like Malabar, enjoyed freedom and property rights.
2. Al-Biruni and Bernier observed restrictions on women due to religious customs.
3. All three mentioned practices like Sati and Purdah, highlighting patriarchal dominance.
4. Yet, they also acknowledged women’s participation in trade and cultural life in some areas.

Q10. Explain the significance of foreign travellers’ accounts for historians of medieval India.

Answer:

1. They provide first-hand, external perspectives on India’s society, culture, and economy.
2. They help understand daily life, caste, trade, and administration of that period.
3. Their writings show India’s links with the wider world through trade and travel.
4. They must be read critically, keeping in mind each traveller’s background and bias.
5. These accounts complement archaeological and textual sources for a complete view of medieval India.

SECTION – C (Long Answer Type)

(5 marks each × 2 = 10 marks)

Q11. Compare the perspectives of Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, and François Bernier on Indian society.

Answer:

Summary:
Al-Biruni’s work was analytical, Ibn Battuta’s descriptive, and Bernier’s judgmental. Together, they provide a multi-dimensional picture of India from the 11th to 17th centuries.

Q12. Describe the major observations of travellers on Indian social practices such as caste, slavery, and labour.

Answer:

1. Caste System:
   • All three travellers noted the strict hierarchy of castes.
   • Al-Biruni explained the four varnas but criticized lack of mobility.
   • Bernier considered caste an obstacle to progress and equality.
2. Slavery:
   • Ibn Battuta described slave markets in India.
   • Slaves served in households, armies, and palaces.
   • Women slaves often worked as dancers or maids.
3. Labourers and Artisans:
   • Bernier wrote that peasants lived in poverty due to heavy taxation.
   • Artisans were skilled in textiles, jewelry, and metalwork.
   • Despite hardships, Indian crafts were renowned globally.
4. Conclusion:
   • These travellers revealed the social diversity and inequality in India.
   • Their accounts help historians study both oppression and excellence in medieval Indian society.

✅ Marking Scheme (Summary)

✳️ Key Exam Tips

• Quote traveller names and book titles correctly.
• Write answers point-wise with headings.
• Use comparison tables for long answers.
• Avoid unnecessary dates; focus on ideas, observations, and analysis.
• Link traveller observations to social, cultural, and political context.