Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
First Englishman visited Akbar's court was
Solution & Analysis
Answer: A
Concept
Before the East India Company became a political force, individual merchants explored the Mughal Empire to assess its wealth. Ralph Fitch was the pioneer who opened English eyes to the vast potential of Indian trade.Explanation
Ralph Fitch was the first Englishman to reach Akbar's court in 1585. He traveled overland through Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. Akbar received him with hospitality, and Fitch subsequently traveled through Agra, Bengal, and Goa, recording his observations for future British merchants.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: While Hawkins and Roe are more famous, they arrived during Jahangir's reign. Ralph Fitch is the only one in the list who visited during Akbar's time.
Logic 2: Fitch was part of a group of four merchants, but he was the only one who successfully completed the journey and returned to England to share his findings.