DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0513
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BOOK VII.
INDIAN SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE.
CHAPTEB L
INTllODUCTOKY.
Fbom a very early period in the world's history a great group of
civilized nations existed in Central Asia between the Mediterranean
and the Indus. They lived apart, having few relations with their
neighbours, except of war and hatred, and served rather to separate
than to bring together the Indian and European communities which
liourished beyond them on either band.
Alexander's great raid was the first attempt to break through this
barrier, and to join the East and West by commercial or social inter-
changes. The steady organisation of the Roman empire succeeded in
consolidating what that brilliant conqueror had sketched out. During
the permanence of her supremacy the space intervening between India
and Europe was bridged over by the order she maintained among the
various communities established in Central Asia, and there seemed no
reason why the intercourse so established should be interrupted. Un-
suspected, however, by the Roman world, two nomade nations, unin-
fluenced by its civilization, hung on either flank of this great line of
communication, ready to avail themselves of any moment of weakness
that might occur.
The Arabs, as the most impetuous, and nearest the centre, were the
first to break their bounds; and in the course of the 7th century Syria,
Persia, Egypt, and the north of Africa became theirs. Spain was con-
quered, and India nearly shared the same fate. Under Muawiah, the
first Khalif of the Ommiahs, two attempts were made to cross the
Indus by the southern route—that which the .Scythians had success-
fully followed a short time before. Both these attempts failed, but
under Walid, Muhamed Kasim. a.h. 99, did effect a settlement in
Scinde. It proved a barren conquest, however; for though a Maho-
metan dynasty was established there, it soon became independent of
the Khalifat, and eventually died out.
BOOK VII.
INDIAN SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE.
CHAPTEB L
INTllODUCTOKY.
Fbom a very early period in the world's history a great group of
civilized nations existed in Central Asia between the Mediterranean
and the Indus. They lived apart, having few relations with their
neighbours, except of war and hatred, and served rather to separate
than to bring together the Indian and European communities which
liourished beyond them on either band.
Alexander's great raid was the first attempt to break through this
barrier, and to join the East and West by commercial or social inter-
changes. The steady organisation of the Roman empire succeeded in
consolidating what that brilliant conqueror had sketched out. During
the permanence of her supremacy the space intervening between India
and Europe was bridged over by the order she maintained among the
various communities established in Central Asia, and there seemed no
reason why the intercourse so established should be interrupted. Un-
suspected, however, by the Roman world, two nomade nations, unin-
fluenced by its civilization, hung on either flank of this great line of
communication, ready to avail themselves of any moment of weakness
that might occur.
The Arabs, as the most impetuous, and nearest the centre, were the
first to break their bounds; and in the course of the 7th century Syria,
Persia, Egypt, and the north of Africa became theirs. Spain was con-
quered, and India nearly shared the same fate. Under Muawiah, the
first Khalif of the Ommiahs, two attempts were made to cross the
Indus by the southern route—that which the .Scythians had success-
fully followed a short time before. Both these attempts failed, but
under Walid, Muhamed Kasim. a.h. 99, did effect a settlement in
Scinde. It proved a barren conquest, however; for though a Maho-
metan dynasty was established there, it soon became independent of
the Khalifat, and eventually died out.