The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c1: Front matter
The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c1
- Language
- English
Front matter
c1.1
The first of these causes was the want of a common language. The Latin tongue, which was the language of the court, the army, and the law, was never spoken by the great body of the people, who continued to use their native dialects. This diversity of language was a constant source of confusion and misunderstanding, and it prevented the formation of a national character. The second cause was the want of a common religion. The Roman religion, which was a mixture of various superstitions, had no hold on the minds of the people, and it was easily supplanted by the new religions which were introduced from the East. The third cause was the want of a common interest. The Roman Empire was a vast collection of different nations, held together only by the force of arms, and there was no bond of union between the different parts of the empire. The fourth cause was the corruption of the government. The Roman government, which had been originally a republic, had become a military despotism, and it was administered by a succession of tyrants who were only interested in their own power and wealth. The fifth cause was the decline of the military spirit. The Roman army, which had once been the finest in the world, had become a mercenary force, and it was no longer able to defend the empire against the barbarians.
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The fall of the Roman Empire was not the result of a single cause, but the consequence of a long series of events, which had been operating for centuries. The empire had been in a state of decline for a long time, and it was only a matter of time before it would collapse. The barbarians, who had been pressing on the frontiers of the empire for centuries, finally broke through, and they were able to conquer the empire because it was no longer able to defend itself. The fall of the Roman Empire was a great tragedy, but it was also a necessary event, for it cleared the way for the rise of the new nations of Europe.
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THE GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT AND MEDIÆVAL INDIA
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BY NUNDO LAL DEY, M.A., B.L., *Author of the "Civilization in Ancient India," etc.*
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SECOND EDITION
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LUZAC & CO., 46, Great Russell Street, London, W.C 1, the Lacedaemonians, who had been waiting for the signal, now attacked the city. The Plataeans, seeing the enemy already inside and their own men falling, and knowing nothing of the plot, were seized with panic and, thinking that the Thebans were far more numerous than they really were, surrendered at discretion. But when they discovered that the Thebans were few, they took heart and, resolving to attack them, closed the gates and fell upon them.
c1.7
The Thebans, finding themselves in a trap, began to defend themselves. Twice or thrice they repelled the attacks of the Plataeans, but when the women and slaves began to shout and throw tiles and stones from the houses, and a heavy rain began to fall, the Thebans, confused and blinded, broke and fled through the city. Most of them, not knowing the way in the darkness and rain, fell into the drains or were killed by the Plataeans, who knew the streets. The gate through which they had entered had been shut by a Plataean who had found a javelin-head and used it as a bolt, so that there was no way out. Pursued through the city, some climbed the wall and jumped down, most of them perishing; others reached the gate and, finding it shut, were cut down by the women and slaves. A small party, seeing a large building with an open door, rushed in, thinking it was a gate, and were captured.
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Meanwhile, the main body of the Thebans, who were to have arrived at daybreak to support the first party, had been delayed by the rain and the swollen river Asopus. When they heard of the disaster, they hurried to the city, intending to seize any Plataeans who might be outside the walls. The Plataeans, suspecting their intention, sent a herald to them, warning them not to harm the prisoners they had taken, and threatening to kill them if they did not withdraw from their territory. The Thebans, upon this, retired.
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The Plataeans, having thus cleared the city, collected their dead and the prisoners. The prisoners, numbering about one hundred and eighty, were executed the next day, despite a message from the Thebans claiming that they had surrendered on terms. The Plataeans denied this, asserting that they had promised to spare them only if they did not commit further acts of violence.
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Thus ended the attempt of the Thebans upon Plataea, an event which was the immediate cause of the war between Athens and the Peloponnesians. The Plataeans, having secured their city, sent a messenger to Athens with the news, and the Athenians, fearing for the safety of the Plataeans, sent a garrison to their aid and removed the women and children to Athens.
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TO Raja Reshee Case Law, C. I. E., WHOSE UNFAILING ENCOURAGEMENT KEPT ALIVE MY LOW HISTORICAL RESEARCHES, THIS HUMBLE VOLUME IS DEDI AS A TOKEN OF AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE. Nundo Lal Dey The Great Seal of King John, which is attached to the Magna Carta, is a significant historical artifact. It represents the royal authority of the monarch during the early 13th century. The seal itself is made of wax and bears the image of the King seated on his throne, holding the orb and scepter, symbols of his power and sovereignty. The inscription around the edge of the seal identifies the King and his titles.
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This seal was not merely a decorative object; it was a legal instrument of immense importance. By affixing this seal to a document, the King gave his formal approval and commitment to the terms contained within. In the case of the Magna Carta, the seal served as a public declaration that the King accepted the limitations placed upon his power by the barons. It transformed a list of demands into a binding legal agreement, a cornerstone of English constitutional history.
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The preservation of this seal, along with the document it authenticates, provides us with a tangible link to the events of 1215. It reminds us of the struggle between the monarchy and the nobility, a conflict that would shape the future of governance in England and beyond. The seal is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Magna Carta and its role in the development of the rule of law.