Relevant Titles
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CBSE Class 12 History MCQs – Travellers’ Observations and Insights
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Class 12 History Practice Test: Through the Eyes of Travellers
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NCERT-Based Class 12 History MCQs – Medieval Indian Society
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Online History Quiz: Travellers’ Accounts of Medieval India
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CBSE Class 12 History Chapter 5 MCQs with Answers & Explanations
Introduction Paragraph
The topic “Travellers’ Observations and Insights” from Theme 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers – Perceptions of Society provides a fascinating window into the social, cultural, and economic life of Medieval India. Accounts of foreign travellers such as Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, Xuanzang, and Duarte Barbosa reveal diverse aspects of Indian society, trade, administration, and everyday life that are not captured in royal chronicles.
This online MCQ practice test has been carefully designed following the latest NCERT Class 12 History syllabus and is ideal for CBSE Board Exam 2025 preparation. Each multiple-choice question focuses on key observations by travellers, their historical value, and comparative insights across time.
By attempting these Class 12 History MCQs, students can test their knowledge, strengthen conceptual understanding, and improve analytical skills. Each question includes detailed explanations, helping learners gain exam-ready confidence and a deeper appreciation of how travel literature shaped historical knowledge.
Sample MCQs with Explanations
1. Which traveller wrote the Rihla, describing his experiences in India?
A) Al-Biruni B) Ibn Battuta C) Marco Polo D) Fa-Hien
Answer: B) Ibn Battuta
Explanation: Ibn Battuta’s Rihla provides vivid details of Delhi Sultanate’s society, court life, and trade during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign.
2. Al-Biruni is known for his:
A) Religious writings B) Analytical and comparative study of Indian culture C) Travel guide D) Poems
Answer: B) Analytical and comparative study of Indian culture
Explanation: Al-Biruni’s Kitab fi Tahqiq ma li’l-Hind systematically studied Indian customs, sciences, and social systems.
3. Which Chinese traveller visited India during Harsha’s reign?
A) Fa-Hien B) Xuanzang C) Marco Polo D) Ibn Battuta
Answer: B) Xuanzang
Explanation: Xuanzang visited India in the 7th century, documenting monasteries, Buddhist rituals, and Indian learning centers.
4. Duarte Barbosa’s observations focused mainly on:
A) Indian mathematics B) Ports and maritime trade on the Malabar Coast C) Mughal courts D) Religious practices
Answer: B) Ports and maritime trade on the Malabar Coast
Explanation: Barbosa detailed trade networks, shipbuilding, and export goods in 16th-century South India.
5. Why are travellers’ accounts valuable to historians?
A) They give exact census data B) They provide firsthand descriptions of societies and cultures C) They are fictional D) They record only myths
Answer: B) They provide firsthand descriptions of societies and cultures
Explanation: Travelogues offer unique perspectives on daily life, economy, and culture—essential for reconstructing historical realities.