NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 1: Through the Eyes of Travellers - Perceptions of Society (c. 10th - 17th centuries)

mcqeasy

Antonio Monserrate, a Jesuit missionary who visited the Mughal court, belonged to:

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AItaly
BPortugal
CFrance
DSpain

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Solution

The correct option is Spain

Explanation

During the reign of Emperor Akbar, the Mughal court hosted three distinct Jesuit missions from Goa to discuss theology and religion. These missions are significant sources of Mughal history due to the detailed accounts left by the missionaries.

Detailed

Antonio Monserrate (1536-1600) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary (born in Catalonia, Spain).
He was selected to accompany Father Rodolfo Acquaviva (an Italian) and Father Francisco Henriques (a Persian convert) on the First Jesuit Mission to Akbar’s court.
The mission arrived at Fatehpur Sikri in 1580 at the invitation of Akbar.
Although the mission was dispatched by the Portuguese authorities in Goa (and the Jesuits operated under the Portuguese Padroado), Monserrate’s personal nationality was Spanish.
He is historically renowned for his work Mongolicae Legationis Commentarius (Commentary on the Embassy to the Mughal Court), which provides a primary eyewitness account of Akbar’s personality, the court, and the Mughal military campaigns (including the Kabul expedition).

Key Takeaway: Antonio Monserrate was a Spanish Jesuit priest who visited Akbar's court in 1580 as part of the first Jesuit mission and authored a significant commentary on the Mughal Empire.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: Through the Eyes of Travellers - Perceptions of Society (c. 10th - 17th centuries)

With reference to the scholar Al-Biruni, consider the following statements: 1. He was brought to Ghazni as a hostage by Sultan Mahmud after the invasion of Khwarizm. 2. He translated the works of Euclid into Arabic. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Consider the following statements regarding Ibn Battuta’s journey to India: 1. He travelled overland through Central Asia. 2. He reached Sind in the year 1296. 3. He travelled from Multan to Delhi in forty days. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Which one of the following European travellers was a jeweller by profession and visited India six times during the seventeenth century?

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Seydi Ali Reis, the author of Mirat-ul-Memalik, was a traveller and admiral from:

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Which of the following terms was used by Al-Biruni to describe the category of people "born outside the system" who provided inexpensive labour?

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The correct option is Spain

Explanation

Detailed

Antonio Monserrate (1536-1600) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary (born in Catalonia, Spain).
He was selected to accompany Father Rodolfo Acquaviva (an Italian) and Father Francisco Henriques (a Persian convert) on the First Jesuit Mission to Akbar’s court.
The mission arrived at Fatehpur Sikri in 1580 at the invitation of Akbar.
Although the mission was dispatched by the Portuguese authorities in Goa (and the Jesuits operated under the Portuguese Padroado), Monserrate’s personal nationality was Spanish.
He is historically renowned for his work Mongolicae Legationis Commentarius (Commentary on the Embassy to the Mughal Court), which provides a primary eyewitness account of Akbar’s personality, the court, and the Mughal military campaigns (including the Kabul expedition).