Question

According to ........., Mughal India lacked private land ownership compared to Europe:

• A. Francois Bernier
• B. Ibn Battuta
• C. Al-Biruni
• D. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

Hint:

Bernier's critique of Mughal land systems contributed to European ideas of "Oriental Despotism," influencing later colonial perspectives on Indian governance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Francois Bernier, a French physician and traveler, criticized the Mughal system of land tenure in his writings, particularly in his book Travels in the Mughal Empire. Bernier noted that unlike in Europe, where private land ownership was common, Mughal India lacked such private property structures. Instead, the Mughal system was based on land grants and state control over resources.