Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Who was Nicolo Conti?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: B
Concept
First-hand accounts by foreign merchants provide crucial details about the layout, culture, and economic strength of Indian empires that local records sometimes skip.Explanation
Nicolo Conti was an Italian merchant and traveler who visited the Vijayanagara Empire around 1420–1421. He arrived during the reign of Devaraya I. His writings provided Europe with its first detailed description of the city's massive fortifications and its vibrant social customs.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: He is specifically identified as Italian, distinguishing him from later travelers like Abdur Razzaq (Persian) or Domingo Paes (Portuguese).
Logic 2: His accounts are highly valued for their descriptions of festivals, the king's army, and the enormous circumference of the capital city.