Ibn Battuta
Explanation
Foreign travellers played a crucial role in documenting the social, political, and economic history of medieval India. Their accounts serve as primary sources for understanding the administrative systems and cultural practices of various dynasties.Option Analysis
- Al-Biruni Al-Biruni: Incorrect. Al-Biruni was an 11th-century scholar from Khwarizm (modern-day Uzbekistan). He accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni to India and authored the Kitab-ul-Hind, an encyclopedic work on Indian philosophy, sciences, and culture.
- Ibn Battuta Ibn Battuta: Correct. Ibn Battuta was a 14th-century traveller from Tangier, Morocco. He arrived in India in 1333 CE during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He served as a Qazi (judge) in the Sultan's court and provided a detailed account of the Indian subcontinent in his travelogue, the Rihla (The Journey).
- Marco Polo Marco Polo: Incorrect. Marco Polo was a Venetian (Italian) traveller who visited South India (specifically the Pandyan Kingdom) in the late 13th century (around 1292–1294 CE) on his way back from China.
- Francois Bernier Francois Bernier: Incorrect. Francois Bernier was a French physician and traveller who visited India in the 17th century (1656–1668 CE) during the Mughal era. He was associated with the court of Dara Shikoh and later Aurangzeb.