August 04, 2007

 Inscriptions

There are different types of inscriptions which we find on old and historical monuments such as palaces, forts, mosques, temples, gardens, tombs and roads. On the basis of these inscriptions we know the date and year of the construction of the buildings, their builders and the idea behind the construction. Inscriptions were also used by rulers to inform the people of their policies.

Such inscriptions were prominently erected in public places. In ancient India, Asoka, the Maurian king, placed a number of inscriptions written in different local languages throughout his empire. Historians, on the basis of these inscriptions, are able to understand his religious and political policies. In Egypt, when archaeologists found an inscription on a stone which contained a text in two languages, it helped them decipher the ancient language of Egypt. One important aspect of inscriptions is that as text is carved on stone, it cannot be changed.

Paintings

Since ancient times, we find beautiful specimens of paintings which are a great source of history. Archaeologists discovered early paintings from the Stone Age in caves. They are of animals, weapons and tools.

The amazing thing is that the colours used to make these paintings were bright and they still look fresh. Later on, rulers, realising the importance of paintings, employed artists at their courts and assigned them to paint social and cultural life of the royal family and the nobility. With the help of these paintings we know about their dress, jewellery, weapons, furniture, pottery and natural surroundings.

Sculpture

Like paintings, sculpture is also a source of history. We find different types of sculptures carved on the walls of temples or palaces depicting religious ceremonies and social life of bygone eras. Rulers and noble men and women were also fond of having their statues made and placed at public places. We also find statues of religious scholars, philosophers, scientists and warriors. In some cases, sculptors also carved the common people such as peasants, workers and artisans. In some cases a whole story is told by carving statues as in the case of Buddha, whose life can be seen on wall reliefs found in Taxila and elsewhere, and which are now preserved in museums.

Literature

It is said that literature is a mirror of its age. Poets and writers reflect social, cultural, political and economic life of their period.

Their characters represent the thinking and ideas, manners, etiquette and lifestyles of an age in which they were created. Folk songs and stories also provide immense information about social and cultural life of a society. Poets and writer generally bring to light those aspects of society which are not mentioned by historians.

For example, Bhagat Kabir, Shah Abdul Latif, Bulleh Shah, Khushhal Khatak, and Rahman Baba’s poetry contain a lot of information about the life of the common people. There is a difference between a historian and a writer. A historian, writing history, relies on evidence while a writer, believing his observations and experience, freely depicts a picture of his society. Poetry, novels, short stories, letters, autobiographies and diaries are also a rich source of history writing.