Money Quote by Will Durant
““The conquering troops plundered the wealthy capital, and found the booty so abundant “that every private man in the allied army became rich in gold, jewels, effects, tents, arms, horses and slaves.”71 For five months the plunder continued: the victors slaughtered the helpless inhabitants in indiscriminate butchery, emptied the stores and shops, smashed the temples and palaces, and labored at great pains to destroy all the statuary and painting in the city; then they went through the streets with flaming torches, and set fire to all that would burn. When at last they retired, Vijayanagar was as completely ruined as if an earthquake had visited it and had left not a stone upon a stone. It was a destruction ferocious and absolute, typifying that terrible Moslem conquest of India which had begun a thousand years before, and was now complete.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Story of Civilization, Volume 8, The Age of Reason, Will Durant, 1944
An account of the violent, extensive plunder and destruction of Vijayanagar, illustrating the brutal nature of conquest and its cultural devastation.
In simple terms: Conquest often brings massive loss and cultural ruin.
Key Takeaway
Remember history's lessons to prevent similar atrocities.
Themes
war
destruction
imperialism
cultural loss
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- educational curricula
- peacebuilding
- heritage preservation
- policy making
Key Concepts
historical analysis
colonial critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What moral responsibilities arise from remembering such events?
- How can societies rebuild after such devastation?
A Different Perspective
Historical narratives can be biased or incomplete.
