question_answer

Here is an excerpt from Ibn Battuta's account of Delhi, often spelt as Delhi in texts of the period:

The city of Delhi covers a wide area and has a large population ... The rampart round the city is without parallel. The breadth of its wall is eleven cubits; and inside it are houses for the night sentry and gatekeepers. Inside the ramparts, there are store-houses for storing edibles, magazines, ammunition, ballista's and siege machines. The grains that are stored (in these ramparts) can last for a long time, without rotting ... In the interior of the rampart, horseman as well as infantrymen move from one end of the city to another. The rampart is pierced through by windows which open on the side of the city, and it is through these windows that light enters inside.

The lower part of bricks. It has many towers close to one another. There are twenty eight gates in this city which are called darwaza, and of these, the Budaun darwaza is the greatest; inside the Mandwi darwaza there is a grain market; adjacent to the Gul darwaza there is an orchard ... It (the city of Delhi) has a fine cemetery in which graves have domes over them, and those that do not have a dome, have an arch, for sure. In the cemetery they sow flowers such as tuberose, jasmine, wild rose, etc.; and flowers blossom there in all seasons.

(i) Why has Ibn Battuta described Delhi as a vast city?

(ii) Mention the measures taken to protect Delhi from the invasion during 14th century.

(iii) Why was Ibn Battuta impressed with the architectural features of the city? Explain.

Or

King and Traders

Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509-29), the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara, composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada. About traders he wrote: A king should improve the harbours of his country and so encourage its commerce that horses, elephants, precious gems, sandalwood, pearls and other articles are freely imported ... He should arrange that the foreign sailors who land in his country on account of storms, illness and exhaustion are looked after in a suitable manner. ... Make the merchants of distant foreign countries who import elephants and good horses be attached to yourself by providing them with daily audience, presents and allowing decent profits. Then those articles will never go to your enemies.

(i) Explain the responsibilities of king mentioned by Krishnadeva Raya.

(ii) In what ways had Krishnadeva Raya protected articles from going to his enemies?

(iii) Explain the measures taken by the king to improve the conditions of his country.

 

Answer:

(i) Ibn Battuta has described Delhi as vast city because of its area and population. There wee 28 gates around the city rampart and there are innumerable granaries to store grains etc. The rampart is wide and even infantry can walk on these ramparts. The city is spacious and infantry walks form one end to another. There are markets in the city. Therefore he sees that the city of Delhi is a vast city.

(ii) During the 14th century Delhi faced threat from western sides such as Afghanistan, Persia etc. Therefore vast ramparts were built around the city with strong gates. The wall was made of stones at the bottom so that it is strong. Also there was use of efficient postal system which facilitated the Sultan to get timely information from the spies.

(iii) IbnBattuta was impressed by the architectural grandeur of Delhi. He had travelled extensively but nowhere did he find such architectural features such as domes and arches on cemetry. The gates of wall were huge and string such as Buland Darwaza. The warehouses for storing the grains were made with such techniques so that there is enough air to keep them fresn yet moisture could not enter these and thus grains were stored for long without rotting. Thus he was astonished by the rich architecture of Delhi.

Or

(i) (a) A king should improve the harbours of his country.

(b) He should encourage commerce and horses elephants, precious gems, sandalwood, pearls and other articles should also be freely imported.

(c) He should also arrange that the foreign sailors who had to land in his country on account of storms, illness and exhaustion were looked after in a proper manner.

(ii) (a) He made the merchants of distant foreign countries who imported elephants and good horses be attached by providing them with daily audience.

(b) He gave precious presents to the merchants and made extensive arrangements so that they could get decent profits.

(iii) (a) The king should protect borders from his enemies.

(b) He should take all necessary steps to improve economic condition of his countrymen.