Promotion of Learning in India during Muhammadan Rule (by Muhammadans) c12.s3: 3. The Kingdom of Aḥmadnagar

Promotion of Learning in India during Muhammadan Rule (by Muhammadans) c12.s3

Language: English

3. The Kingdom of Aḥmadnagar

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Aḥmad Niẓām Shāh, the first King, was in his childhood taken prisoner by the army of Aḥmad Shāh Bahmanī, who educated him with his eldest son, Prince Maḥmūd. The boy-captive was of exceptional ability, and with the facilities for study placed within his reach, he soon attained eminence in Persian and Arabic literature.² the Athenians, who were already in the city, were not aware of the plot, but when they saw the Plataeans fighting, they did not wish to attack them, as they were friends, but when they saw that they were being attacked and killed in the city, they were at a loss what to do. They decided to run to the citadel, and some of them escaped there, while others were killed in the streets as they were caught by the Thebans. The women and slaves were screaming and wailing in the houses, and the Thebans, who were in the city, were throwing stones at them, as the confusion was great. In the meantime, the rest of the Thebans, who were outside, hearing the shouting, rushed into the city to help their comrades.

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² *Firishta* vol. iii, p. 190.

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The Plataeans, seeing that they were being attacked by the Thebans, and that the Thebans were already in the city, were in great fear. They opened the gates of the city, and let the Athenians, who were in the citadel, come out, and they also let the rest of the Plataeans, who were in the houses, come out. They then attacked the Thebans, and as they were fighting in the dark, and in the narrow streets, the Thebans were at a disadvantage. The Plataeans, who knew the city well, were able to attack them from the houses, and from the roofs, and they were able to kill many of them. The Thebans, seeing that they were being defeated, tried to escape, but the gates were closed, and they were trapped. Some of them climbed over the walls, and others were killed as they tried to escape.

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The Plataeans, having defeated the Thebans, sent a messenger to Athens to tell them what had happened, and to ask for help. The Athenians, hearing the news, sent a force to Plataea, and they also sent a message to the Thebans, telling them that if they did not release the prisoners, they would kill the Thebans who were in their hands. The Thebans, fearing for their men, agreed to release the prisoners, and the Plataeans, having received their men, released the Thebans. This was the beginning of the war between the Athenians and the Peloponnesians.

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the Athenians, and the Lacedaemonians, and the allies of both, were all of them in a state of great excitement, and many prophecies were being recited by the diviners, and were current even among those who were not at war. Besides this, there was an earthquake in Delos, which is said to have occurred only once before in the history of the Hellenes. It was said to be a portent of what was to come, and everything of this kind was interpreted as a sign of the approaching events.

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The majority of the Hellenes were on the side of the Lacedaemonians; for they were the liberators of Hellas. The Athenians, on the other hand, had ceased to be the liberators of the Hellenes from the Persians, and were now themselves the masters of the greater part of them. The Lacedaemonians were the leaders of the Peloponnesians, and the Athenians were the leaders of the rest of Hellas, or at least of those who were their allies.

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The Lacedaemonians were the most powerful of the Hellenes, and their allies were the most numerous. The Athenians were the most powerful at sea, and their allies were the most numerous. The Lacedaemonians were the most powerful on land, and their allies were the most numerous. The Athenians were the most powerful at sea, and their allies were the most numerous. The Lacedaemonians were the most powerful on land, and their allies were the most numerous. The Athenians were the most powerful at sea, and their allies were the most numerous.

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The Lacedaemonians were the most powerful on land, and their allies were the most numerous. The Athenians were the most powerful at sea, and their allies were the most numerous. The Lacedaemonians were the most powerful on land, and their allies were the most numerous. The Athenians were the most powerful at sea, and their allies were the most numerous. The Lacedaemonians were the most powerful on land, and their allies were the most numerous. The Athenians were the most powerful at sea, and their allies were the most numerous.

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Chahār Minār at Ḥaidarābād, containing a Madrasah, built 1591 A.D. (From the Oriental Annual, 1840.)

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In the reign of King Aḥmad Niẓām Shāh, the practice of single-stick was introduced by the king when a boy. He was much skilled in this sort of sword play, and took much delight in the exercise. Accordingly, we are told, all men both high and low began to copy the prince, and “*instead of colleges, as is usual in Muhammadan cities*, schools for single-sword and wrestling were established in all quarters of the city of Aḥmadnagar.”