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The European traveller, who held that the Mughal Empire was leading towards a crisis because of the King's claim to ownership over all land was:

  1. Francisco Pelsaert
  2. Sir Thomas Roe
  3. Father Monserrate
  4. Francois Bernier

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Answer: (4) Francois Bernier

Explanation:

Francois Bernier was a French traveler and physician who visited India during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He is known for his detailed accounts of the Mughal Empire, which he documented in his writings. Bernier observed the socio-economic conditions in the empire and criticized the Mughal system of land ownership, where the king claimed ownership over all land. He argued that this system led to the exploitation of peasants and a lack of incentive for landowners to invest in the land, ultimately leading the empire towards economic decline and crisis.

None of the other options, such as Francisco Pelsaert, Sir Thomas Roe, or Father Monserrate, made similar observations about the Mughal Empire's land ownership system. Hence, the correct answer is Francois Bernier.

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