Description
Manohar Travels in the Mogul Empire 1656 to 1668 by Francois Bernier
Based on the English translation of the French work, Voyage dans les Etats du Grand Mogol by Archibald Constable, Travels in the Mogul Empire covers a significant part of the Mughal period. This French travelogue is based on Bernier’s expedition to Mughal India. Much of this work covers the period of Mughal emperors Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658) and Aurangzeb (r.1658-1707). This volume is marked with various distinct themes, as Bernier writes this book with astute observation, critical inspection, and reflection on various things during his visit to India. The author compares it with the economy, society, polity, and other social aspects of contemporary Europe. He generally presents India in a pessimistic manner in terms of economic and social conditions. The book covers the first hand accounts of different regions of Mughal India, such as Delhi, Agra, Bengal, Kashmir, etc., its topography, climate, and ethnography. Besides, this volume covers the economic models followed by India, an account of Hinduism, a vivid portrayal of the Peacock Throne, and the political history discussing the rebellion and war between Shah Jahan’s son for succession to the imperial throne. This French travelogue became a source for western theorists to understand the feudal model. Later, it became a model for the study for famous intellectuals like Montesquieu and Karl Marx. Both Montesquieu and Marx, based on this work, developed the famous theory of eastern despotism and the Asiatic Mode of Production respectively to understand the economic conditions of the eastern society. About the Author François Bernier (1620-1688) was a physician, political philosopher and a historian. He was the personal physician of Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and later served under a Mughal noble of Armenian origin Danishmand Khan. He is the author of Doutes de Mr. Bernier sur quelques-uns des principaux Chapitres de son Abregé de la Philosophie de Gassendi and Nouvelle division de la terre par les différentesespècesou races qui l'habitent. He spent nearly twelve years of his life in India. He later died in Paris.