With reference to Abu’l Fazl’s methodology in compiling the Ain-i Akbari, consider the following statements: 1. He relied on a wide range of sources, including official documents. 2. He accepted oral testimonies without any verification. 3. Numeric data were reproduced in words to minimize transcriptional errors. Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to Abu’l Fazl’s methodology… - NCERT Class 12 History MCQ

NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 4: Peasants, Zamindars and the State - Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. 16th - 17th centuries)

mcqmedium

With reference to Abu’l Fazl’s methodology in compiling the Ain-i Akbari, consider the following statements:

He relied on a wide range of sources, including official documents.
He accepted oral testimonies without any verification.
Numeric data were reproduced in words to minimize transcriptional errors.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Themes in Indian History - 2 · Page 220

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is

1 and 3 only

Explanation

The Ain-i Akbari, authored by Abu’l Fazl, is the third volume of the Akbarnama. It functions as an administrative manual and gazetteer of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, detailing the governance structure, statistics, and regulations.

Statement 1 is Correct:
Abu’l Fazl employed a rigorous methodology for data collection. He relied on a diverse range of sources, including official documents, memos, and reports from provincial administration, to ensure the compilation was comprehensive and authoritative.

Statement 2 is Incorrect:
Abu’l Fazl was extremely cautious regarding the authenticity of his information. He did not accept oral testimonies without verification; instead, he cross-referenced oral accounts with other evidence and sources to establish their veracity before inclusion.

Statement 3 is Correct:
The text contains extensive statistical data regarding revenue, prices, and wages. To minimize transcriptional errors-which were common when copying numerical figures in manuscripts-quantitative data were reproduced in words rather than just numerals.

Key Takeaway:
The Ain-i Akbari was compiled using an empirical and critical approach, characterized by the use of official records, the cross-verification of oral sources, and safeguards against clerical errors in statistical data.

Your note

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