History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c26.s1.20

c26.s1.20

But a few shortcomings cannot mar the extra-ordinary value of Barani's *Tarikh*. He does not only write about courts or campaigns as most of the medieval chroniclers do, but also gives social and economic reforms of rulers, their administrative measures and their system of meeting out justice. He gives a long list of contemporary saints, philosophers, historians, poets, medical men and astronomers. His references to clothes, fruits and sweets and other sundry articles of those days throw a flood of light on the socio-economic conditions of the 14th century. Barani's descriptions of the Market Control of 'Alāūddīn and the sultan's revenue regulations, clearly show that he is not a mere chronicler but a historian in the true sense of the word. Barani knew the shortcomings of his contemporaries and says that Kabīruddīn and other historians confine their narrative to kings, courts and conquests. He begins his book with a long discourse on historiography and the uses of historical study.¹² He talks at length about the duties of a king.¹³ As a historian he tries to analyse critically the causes which brought about the end of Jalāluddīn, of 'Alāūddīn and of the Khaljī regime as a whole. Ziyāuddīn was cognizant of his contribution to historical literature and declares, without diffidence, that for the past thousand years a book like the *Tarīkh-i-Fīroz Shāhī* had not been produced.¹⁴