Through the Eyes of Travellers Class 12 History Chapter 5 CBSE Notes- 2025-26

During the period from the tenth to the seventeenth century, several travellers visited the Indian subcontinent and recorded their observations. These travel accounts offer invaluable information about society, culture, economy, and politics in medieval India. 

Their perspectives were often unique because they compared their own customs and beliefs with what they saw in India. Among the most notable travellers were Al-Biruni from Uzbekistan, Ibn Battuta from Morocco, and François Bernier from France.

Al-Biruni, born in 973 in Khwarizm (present-day Uzbekistan), was a renowned scholar fluent in Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, and Sanskrit. He was brought to Ghazni by Mahmud of Ghazni and spent his life studying different cultures. 

Al-Biruni wrote the famous 'Kitab-ul-Hind' in Arabic, which included 80 chapters on topics like religion, philosophy, astronomy, customs, festivals, and social structures. His work provided a systematic and objective analysis of Indian society, especially focusing on the differences and similarities between Indian and Islamic cultures.

One of Al-Biruni’s main challenges was understanding Sanskrit, as its concepts did not translate easily to Arabic or Persian. He noted the importance of language as a barrier to deeper cultural understanding. 

The Kitab-ul-Hind is used by historians for its careful, methodical approach and comparative study. Al-Biruni aimed to help those interested in discussing religious and cultural questions with Indian scholars and offered detailed descriptions of Indian society without being judgmental.

Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan traveller who arrived in India in the fourteenth century and stayed at the Delhi Sultanate's court. His travelogue, the 'Rihla', written in Arabic, provides rich insights into the urban and social life of India. Ibn Battuta began his journeys at the age of 22, travelling through North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and finally arriving in India.

He documented a variety of subjects: city life, postal systems, customs like paan and coconut consumption, the work of artisans, and even descriptions of local hazards such as robbers and diseases. 

Ibn Battuta was deeply interested in the unfamiliar and shared what struck him as unusual. For example, he detailed how coconuts looked like human heads and paan required special preparation. His writings also highlighted the efficient communication system of mule and foot messengers in India.

François Bernier, a physician and intellectual from France, travelled to India during the Mughal period and served as a physician to Dara Shukoh. His accounts focused on comparing India with Europe and brought a Western perspective to observations of Indian society. Bernier commented on topics such as land ownership, rural poverty, and social hierarchy.

He argued that India’s land revenue system led to the poverty of peasants and compared Bengal’s fertility with Egypt’s. Bernier’s comparison between “East” and “West” influenced European perceptions of India. 

Beyond the economy, Bernier described imperial workshops and the opulence of Mughal society, but he often judged India by Western standards, leading to some stereotypes.

Travellers observed unique Indian customs. They described the caste system in detail, with Al-Biruni presenting it as a complex social division. Ibn Battuta noted the widespread presence of slaves and their roles in court and daily life. 

Sati, the practice of widow burning, particularly disturbed French and Dutch travellers, including Bernier, who described it in detail, especially when it involved very young girls.

Women’s status was often a subject of curiosity for travellers. Most surviving accounts were written by men, but these records still provide information about social roles, work, and customs around women in medieval India. Some travellers also mentioned the role of slave women in the administrative framework of the Mughal court.

Descriptions of Indian cities, such as Delhi, are found in Ibn Battuta’s and Bernier’s narratives. Ibn Battuta described the city’s large population, wide ramparts, and active marketplaces. Bernier’s work presented a more critical view of urban and rural life, mentioning both prosperity in commerce and the poverty among rural peasants.

The period saw the existence of well-organized communication systems, like postal routes using horses and runners, as detailed by Ibn Battuta. Both he and Bernier mentioned diverse crafts and artisanal work taking place in the cities and karkhanas (workshops) set up under royal patronage.

Between the tenth and seventeenth centuries, notable travellers who wrote accounts of India included Al-Biruni (eleventh century, Uzbekistan), Marco Polo (thirteenth century, Italy), Ibn Battuta (fourteenth century, Morocco), Afanasii Nikitin (fifteenth century, Russia), Duarte Barbosa and Antonio Monserrate (sixteenth century, Portugal and Spain), and François Bernier and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (seventeenth century, France). Their records help reconstruct historical events and understand social and economic conditions of their times.

The writings of foreign travellers provide a unique and comparative view of Indian society. Their outsider perspective led them to describe everyday activities, customs, festivals, and economic practices with attention to detail, often noting what locals took for granted. These accounts remain important historical sources, complementing local records and literature.

Questions often focus on the content of the Kitab-ul-Hind, differences in viewpoint between Ibn Battuta and Bernier, details about urban and rural life, evidence for slavery, features of the caste system, and descriptions of social practices like sati. Students should understand both the factual information and the perspective of each traveler to answer such questions well.

For deeper understanding, students are encouraged to refer to supplementary books mentioned in the chapter and attempt activities such as mapping Ibn Battuta’s travels and interviewing elders about travel experiences to relate the past to the present.

Class 12 History Chapter 5 Notes – Through the Eyes of Travelers Revision Key Points

These revision notes for Class 12 History Chapter 5 give you a concise summary of “Through the Eyes of Travellers,” capturing key facts and exam-relevant details. The points are structured for rapid reading, helping you recall facts about Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, Bernier, and their unique perspectives on medieval Indian society.

Each section is designed to boost your understanding of main events, important practices, and the comparative outlook of foreign travellers. With these comprehensive History class 12 notes, you can easily reinforce concepts and prepare efficiently for CBSE board exams and quick last-minute revision.