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Some Images from the history of Bangala/Bengal/BanglaDesh
Bengal's histoy goes back over 2500 years. Images are from various times of Bengal's past
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300-500BC. A seal from Mahastan located in Bogra, BanglaDesh. Ancient name of the city of Pundra Nagar or the city of the Pundra people who formed a powerful empire in the northern Bangla region. Later on during Asoka's region, Pundra Nagar became his eastern capital.
Image from Archeology of Bangladesh |
700-1000 AD. The Paharpur Bhuddist Vihara or University established by Bangla's Pala kings. Pala kings hailed from the northern Dhaka region and ruled large part of Northern India between 7th and 11th century.
Image from Archeology of Bangladesh
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1567 AD map by Roselli from Venice. The information on the map is based on the book Geographia by Ptolomy from the 2nd Century AD. The lower right hand side of the map shows the rivers of BanglaDesh and also the location of a powerful empire which the Greeks called Gagaride Empire or the Empire of the people of Lower Ganges. During Alexander's invasion of India, his army was demoralized by the news of Gagaride Empire's 4,000 elephant force and they turned back from the Indus river region.
Image from Bangala Library Collection |
Image from 1850's near Padma River. The curved thatched roof system was unique to Bengal and very nature friendly. The aerodynamic shape of the roof allowed it to be more stable during Kalboisheki's high wind. The larger versions of these types of houses were built for the well to do and used to called Bangala. Later on the English transplanted the Bangla architecture all over the world under the name Bangalo.
Image from Library of Congress
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900 AD terracotta from Mainamati, Comilla, BanglaDesh. Mainamati was built by the Chandra kings who had trade relations with many countries of the world. |
1850 AD print of Dhaka Muslin Scarf. The intricate embroydary was a genious of Dhaka industry the art of which has been lost.
Image Bangala Library Collection
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a comtemporay drawing showing Moghul prince wearing Dhaka Muslin. The looms of Dhaka produced the most famous of the muslims which were often termed like Woven Air or Morning Mist. So fine were their weaving that many yeard of the fabric could be put through a ring. The Moghuls often are potrayed wearing the wonder of Dhaka loom. |
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a boat in one of the many rivers of BanglaDesh. Once upon a time, Boats that were made in Bangala was famous throught the Arab trading communities who placed orders for many types of ocean going vessels from the port in Chittagon or Chatigaon. |
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1763 AD. Read an article in a London Magazine about the famine in Bangla. Article (S and s are written as f in articles from 18th century.)
from Bangala Library Collection
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