Match List-I with List-II. List-IList-II(A) Nicolo de Conti(I) Portugal(B) Abdur Razzak(II) Russia(C) Afanasi Nikitin(III) Persia(D) Domingo Paes(IV) Italy Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Matching Foreign Travellers and Their Origins

This question asks us to match famous foreign travellers who visited India with their respective countries of origin. Understanding the historical context of these visits helps us learn about the perspectives of outsiders on India during different periods.

Let's examine each traveller from List-I and find their country of origin in List-II.

List-I (Travellers):

(A) Nicolo de Conti
(B) Abdur Razzak
(C) Afanasi Nikitin
(D) Domingo Paes

List-II (Countries of Origin):

(I) Portugal
(II) Russia
(III) Persia
(IV) Italy

Now, let's match them based on historical information:

(A) Nicolo de Conti: Nicolo de Conti was a merchant and explorer from Venice, which is in Italy (IV). He travelled extensively in Asia, including India, in the early 15th century.
(B) Abdur Razzak: Abdur Razzak was a Persian Islamic scholar and chronicler. He served as an ambassador for the ruler of Persia, Shah Rukh, to the court of the Vijayanagara Empire in India in the 15th century. So, he is from Persia (III).
(C) Afanasi Nikitin: Afanasi Nikitin was a Russian merchant and one of the first Europeans to document his travels in India. He travelled to India in the 15th century. He is from Russia (II).
(D) Domingo Paes: Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagara Empire around the early 16th century during the reign of Krishnadevaraya. He is from Portugal (I).

Based on these matches, the correct pairing is:

(A) - (IV) Italy
(B) - (III) Persia
(C) - (II) Russia
(D) - (I) Portugal

Let's look at the options provided and see which one matches our findings.

Traveller (List-I)	Country (List-II)	Correct Match
Nicolo de Conti (A)	Italy (IV)	(A)-(IV)
Abdur Razzak (B)	Persia (III)	(B)-(III)
Afanasi Nikitin (C)	Russia (II)	(C)-(II)
Domingo Paes (D)	Portugal (I)	(D)-(I)

Comparing this with the options:

Option (a) (A)-(I), (B)-(II), (C)-(III), (D)-(IV) - Incorrect
Option (b) (A)-(III), (B)-(I), (C)-(IV), (D)-(II) - Incorrect
Option (c) (A)-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(II), (D)-(I) - Incorrect
Option (d) (A)-(IV), (B)-(III), (C)-(II), (D)-(I) - Correct

The correct option is (d), which correctly matches Nicolo de Conti with Italy, Abdur Razzak with Persia, Afanasi Nikitin with Russia, and Domingo Paes with Portugal.

Revision Table: Famous Foreign Travellers to India

Traveller Name	Country of Origin	Time Period (Approx.)	Notable Observations/Places Visited
Nicolo de Conti	Italy	Early 15th Century	Vijayanagara Empire, other parts of India. Provided valuable descriptions.
Abdur Razzak	Persia	Mid-15th Century	Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Deva Raya II. Detailed accounts of the city.
Afanasi Nikitin	Russia	Late 15th Century	Deccan region, including Bidar. Described the economic and social conditions.
Domingo Paes	Portugal	Early 16th Century	Vijayanagara Empire during Krishnadevaraya's reign. Gave vivid details of the empire's grandeur.

Additional Information: Foreign Accounts of Ancient and Medieval India

The accounts of foreign travellers are crucial primary sources for reconstructing the history of India. They often provide unique perspectives on the political, social, economic, and cultural conditions of the time they visited. Different travellers focused on different aspects based on their background (merchant, diplomat, pilgrim, etc.).

Significance: These accounts complement indigenous sources, sometimes confirming details and other times offering alternative viewpoints. They are especially valuable for periods where local sources are scarce or fragmented.
Examples of other Travellers: Apart from those listed, many other travellers visited India throughout history. Examples include Megasthenes (Greek), Faxian (Chinese Buddhist monk), Hiuen Tsang (Chinese Buddhist monk), Al-Biruni (Persian scholar), Ibn Battuta (Moroccan scholar), Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (French gem merchant), François Bernier (French physician), etc.
Challenges in using accounts: It's important to critically analyse these accounts, considering the traveller's biases, purpose of visit, and potential misunderstandings of local customs and languages.

Studying these foreign accounts helps us gain a broader and more nuanced understanding of India's past.