Question

Read the following statements regarding Ibn Battuta’s description of Delhi :
I. Delhi was a vast city.
II. Delhi was a populous city.
III. Delhi had colourful markets.
IV. Delhi was isolated from Asian trade.
Which of the following options are correct ?

• A. I, II and III are correct.
• B. I, III and IV are correct.
• C. II, III and IV are correct.
• D. I, II and IV are correct.

Hint:

According to Ibn Battuta, 14th-century Delhi was a fortified complex of four interconnected component cities: Delhi (Old City/Qila Rai Pithora), Siri, Jahanpah, and Tughlaqabad. It was a massive trade hub, completely contradicting any claims of isolation. Core Characteristics: Vast + Populous + Dymic Markets

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: The Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta arrived in India during the fourteenth century during the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq. In his famous travelogue, the Rihla, he recorded meticulous geographical, cultural, and economic observations of urban life across the Delhi Sultate.

Step 1: Fact-checking individual statements via the Rihla.
Let us evaluate each provided statement based on Ibn Battuta's actual manuscripts:
• Statement I ("Delhi was a vast city"): Correct. Ibn Battuta described Delhi as a city covering an immense geographical area with extensive perimeter walls (prakara) and monumental defensive gates. He noted that it was the largest city in the eastern part of the Islamic world at that time.
• Statement II ("Delhi was a populous city"): Correct. He praised Delhi as a vibrant mega-city teeming with a dense population, full of diverse professiols, soldiers, administrators, and artisans who migrated from various corners of the globe.
• Statement III ("Delhi had colourful markets"): Correct. The travelogue describes Delhi's dymic, glittering bazaars (such as the market for male and female singers, *Tarubad*). These markets were not merely economic hubs but centers of social and cultural life, featuring mosques, temples, and spaces for public performances.
• Statement IV ("Delhi was isolated from Asian trade"): Incorrect. This is completely false. Ibn Battuta repeatedly observed that Indian urban centers were deeply integrated into an extensive global commercial network. Delhi was linked via robust overland and maritime routes to Central Asia, Chi, East Africa, and the Middle East, facilitating a continuous flow of textiles, spices, horses, and precious metals.

Step 2: Matching with options.
Since Statements I, II, and III are historically accurate while Statement IV is false, the correct combition is turally isolated to Option (A).