DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0515
Chap. I.
INTRODUCTORY.
■191
1. The first of these is that of Ghazni, which, though not, strictly
speaking, in India, had without doubt the most important influence
on the Indian styles, and formed in fact the stepping-stone by means
of which the architecture of the West was introduced into India, and
it long remained the connecting link between the styles of the Eastern
and those of the Western world It would consequently be of the
greatest importance in enabling us to understand the early examples
of the style in India Proper, if we could describe this one with any-
thing like precision, but for that we must wait till some qualified
person visits the province.
2. Next to this comes the Pathan style of northern India (a.d.
1193-1554), spreading over the whole of Upper India, and lasting for
about three centuries and a half. After the death, however, of Ala
ud-dln (a.d. 1316) the central power was at times so weak, that the
recently conquered outlying provinces were frequently enabled to
render themselves independent, and when this was the case, exhibited
their individuality everywhere, by inventing a style of architecture
expressive of their local peculiarities.
3. One of the first to exhibit this tendency was the brilliant but
short-lived Sharki dynasty of Jaunpore (a.d. 1394-1476). Though
existing for less than a century, they adorned their capital with a
series of mosques and other buildings which are hardly surpassed by
those of any city in India for magnificence, and by none for a well-
marked individuality of treatment.
4. The style adopted by the kings of Gvjerat during their period
of independence (a.d. L396-1572) was richer and more varied than
that of Jaunpore, though hardly so original or marked by such indi-
viduality. They borrowed too much, physically as well as intel-
lectually, from the architecture of the Jains, among whom they
were located, to be entirely independent; but the richness of their
style is in proportion to the Hindu details they introduced.
o. Malwa became independent in a.d. 1401, and between that date
and a.d. 1o68, when they were absorbed in the Mogul empire, her
kings adorned their capital at Mandu with palaces and moscpues of
great magnificence, but more similar to the parent style at Delhi
than the two last-named styles, and wanting, consequently, in the
local individuality.
6. Bengal was early erected into a separate kingdom—in a.d. 1208
—more or less independent of the central power; and during its con-
tinuance—till a.d. 1573—the capitals, Gnur and Maldah. were adorned
with many splendid edifices. Generally these were in brick, and
are now so overgrown by jungle as to be either ruined or nearly
invisible. They are singularly picturesque, however, and display all
the features of a strongly-marked individuality of style.
These six divisions are probably sufficient to cliaracterise the
INTRODUCTORY.
■191
1. The first of these is that of Ghazni, which, though not, strictly
speaking, in India, had without doubt the most important influence
on the Indian styles, and formed in fact the stepping-stone by means
of which the architecture of the West was introduced into India, and
it long remained the connecting link between the styles of the Eastern
and those of the Western world It would consequently be of the
greatest importance in enabling us to understand the early examples
of the style in India Proper, if we could describe this one with any-
thing like precision, but for that we must wait till some qualified
person visits the province.
2. Next to this comes the Pathan style of northern India (a.d.
1193-1554), spreading over the whole of Upper India, and lasting for
about three centuries and a half. After the death, however, of Ala
ud-dln (a.d. 1316) the central power was at times so weak, that the
recently conquered outlying provinces were frequently enabled to
render themselves independent, and when this was the case, exhibited
their individuality everywhere, by inventing a style of architecture
expressive of their local peculiarities.
3. One of the first to exhibit this tendency was the brilliant but
short-lived Sharki dynasty of Jaunpore (a.d. 1394-1476). Though
existing for less than a century, they adorned their capital with a
series of mosques and other buildings which are hardly surpassed by
those of any city in India for magnificence, and by none for a well-
marked individuality of treatment.
4. The style adopted by the kings of Gvjerat during their period
of independence (a.d. L396-1572) was richer and more varied than
that of Jaunpore, though hardly so original or marked by such indi-
viduality. They borrowed too much, physically as well as intel-
lectually, from the architecture of the Jains, among whom they
were located, to be entirely independent; but the richness of their
style is in proportion to the Hindu details they introduced.
o. Malwa became independent in a.d. 1401, and between that date
and a.d. 1o68, when they were absorbed in the Mogul empire, her
kings adorned their capital at Mandu with palaces and moscpues of
great magnificence, but more similar to the parent style at Delhi
than the two last-named styles, and wanting, consequently, in the
local individuality.
6. Bengal was early erected into a separate kingdom—in a.d. 1208
—more or less independent of the central power; and during its con-
tinuance—till a.d. 1573—the capitals, Gnur and Maldah. were adorned
with many splendid edifices. Generally these were in brick, and
are now so overgrown by jungle as to be either ruined or nearly
invisible. They are singularly picturesque, however, and display all
the features of a strongly-marked individuality of style.
These six divisions are probably sufficient to cliaracterise the