Medieval Sources of History

Matching Medieval Authors: Al-Biruni to Ibn Battuta

Al-Biruni wrote Tarikh-e-Hind, Amir Khusrau wrote Tarikh-i-Alai, Ibn Battuta wrote Rihla, and Minhaj wrote Tabaqat-i-Nasiri.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part II

Archived:

Updated:

Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I
A. Tarikh-e-hind
B. Tarikh-i-Alai
C. Rihla
D. Tabqat-i-Nasiri
List-II
1. Ibn Battuta
2. Minhaj
3. Al-Biruni
4. Khusrau

[UPPCS (Mains) 2009]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Medieval historiography relied on both official court chronicles and independent travelogues to record the sociopolitical landscape of the Delhi Sultanate.

Authentic Source Evidence


  • Al-Biruni wrote Tarikh-i-Hind (Arabic), an objective study of Indian culture.

  • Amir Khusrau wrote Tarikh-i-Alai, detailing the reign of Alauddin Khilji.

  • Ibn Battuta authored Rihla (Arabic), documenting his global travels.

  • Minhaj-i-Siraj wrote Tabaqat-i-Nasiri (Persian), a history dedicated to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud.
  • Analytical Breakdown


  • A-3: Al-Biruni's work is a proto-sociological account of 11th-century India.

  • B-4: Khusrau's work is an example of courtly panegyric combined with history.

  • C-1: Rihla offers an outsider's view of Tughlaq-era administration.

  • D-2: Tabaqat-i-Nasiri is a vital source for the early Slave Dynasty.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Which of these authors was a Qazi in the court of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq?"

    Ibn Battuta, who served as the Chief Qazi of Delhi for several years.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The transition from Arabic (Al-Biruni) to Persian (Minhaj/Khusrau) reflects the shifting linguistic preference of the Islamic world in India."

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