Who among the following was a Dutch traveller to Agra in the 17^th Century?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UGC NET Paper 2: History 16th June 2023 Shift 2

Answer 1

Francisco Pelsaert was a Dutch traveller to Agra in the 17th Century. Key Points

Francisco Pelsaert was a Dutch merchant who worked for the Dutch East India Company.
He was born in Antwerp, Belgium, around 1595.
In 1618, he sailed to India and was posted to Agra, where he remained for seven years.
During his time in Agra, he rose to the position of senior merchant.
He also visited Kashmir and Lahore.
Pelsaert was a keen observer of the Mughal Empire and its people.
He wrote a detailed report of his observations, which is known as the Remonstrantie.
The Remonstrantie provides a valuable insight into the Mughal Empire in the 17th century, covering topics such as trade, economy, society, and customs.
After his time in Agra, Pelsaert returned to the Netherlands in 1628.
He was soon re-employed by the Dutch East India Company and sailed to Java.
However, the ship he was on, the Batavia, was shipwrecked off the coast of Western Australia.
Pelsaert and a few others survived the shipwreck and managed to reach Batavia.
He later led an expedition to punish the mutineers who had caused the shipwreck.
Pelsaert died in Batavia in September 1630.
His report, the Remonstrantie, was not published until 1925.
However, it has since become an important source for historians of the Mughal Empire.

Additional Information

Here are some of the things that Pelsaert wrote about in his Remonstrantie:
- The size and grandeur of Agra
- The wealth and power of the Mughal emperor
- The different types of people who lived in Agra, including Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans
- The different types of businesses that were conducted in Agra
- The customs and traditions of the Mughal people
- The political situation in the Mughal Empire
Pelsaert's Remonstrantie is a valuable document that provides a rare glimpse into the Mughal Empire in the 17th century.
It is a valuable resource for historians and anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating period of Indian history.