HISTORY PROJECT

ON FRANCOIS
BERNEIR
PRESENTED BYHARITHA JAYAN
XII D
REG.NO-4636353

FOREIGN
TRAVELLER
FRANCOIS BERNEIR
Francois Berneir
(1625-22
September
1688)was born at
Joue-Etiau in
Anjou

INTRODUCTION
Francois Berneir was a french physician
who visited India between 1656 and 1668.
His travel accounts are an important
source for historians of Mughal India. As
a perspective observer Berneir noticed
and
recorded
manners,
customs,
institutions and economy of various parts
of India including Bengal . He depicted a
critical picture of the then existed Indian
society

A WESTERN VIEW OF
THE MUGHAL EMPIRE
Berneirs book titled Travels in
the Mughal Empire was written
and published in French . In his
book he described what he saw in
India as a bleak situation in
comparison to developments in
Europe . His accounts are marked
by detailed observations , critical
insights , and reflection

BERNEIRS
BOOK

Berneir described Mughal cities as

camp towns that did not have
viable
economic
and
social
foundations but were dependent on
Imperial patronage . They came into
existence when imperial court moved
in and rapidly declined when it
moved out .
According to Berneir one of the
fundamental differences between
Mughal India and Europe was lack of
private property.

He was a firm believer in virtues of

private property and saw crown
ownership of land as being harmful
for both state and its people.
Berneir described Indian society
as consisting of undifferentiated
masses of impoverished people ,
subjugated by a small minority of a
very rich and powerful ruling
aristocracy . Berneir confidently
asserted that there was no middle
class in India.

A VIEW TO THE
REALITY
In fact during the 17th century about
15% of the population lived in towns .
This was an average higher than the
proportion of urban population in
western Europe in the same period .
There were all kinds of towns ,
manufacturing , trading and soon.
Their existence is indicative of
prosperity of merchant communities
and professional classes.

While presenting Indian urban centres

as camp towns society marked by
declining living standards under the
grip of tyrannical ruling aristocracy ,
Berneirs own descriptions , historians
understand a hint of a more complex
social reality to the existence of a
prosperous
merchant
community
engaged in long distance exchange . He
conceded that Indian goods were in
great demand and vast quantities of
worlds precious metals flowed into
India.

POPULARITY OF HIS BOOK

Unlike accounts of other foreign
travellers Berneirs Travels in the
Mughal Empire were published in
France as early as 1670-71. Within the
next five years it was translated into
English , Dutch ,German and Italian
technology and translation enabled
wider circulation of Berneirs works .
Between 1670 and 1725 his account was
reprinted eight times in English.

CONCLUSION
In overall , the assessment of
Berneir about the rural society of
India was not correct . It was
misleading and far from truth . Even
when he depicted a critical picture
of the then existing society through
his records , his travel experiences
later proved to be useful to many . it
provided information to history
students as well as historians.

THANK YOU