AP World History: Modern DBQ Practice

1. And for obtaining the common counsel of the kingdom anent the assessing of an aid (except in the three cases aforesaid) or of a scutage, we will cause to be summoned the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, and greater barons, severally by our letters; and we will moveover cause to be summoned generally, through our sheriffs and bailiffs, and others who hold of us in chief, for a fixed date, namely, after the expiry of at least forty days, and at a fixed place; and in all letters of such summons we will specify the reason of the summons. And when the summons has thus been made, the business shall proceed on the day appointed, according to the counsel of such as are present, although not all who were summoned have come.

2. No freemen shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.

3. To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice.

By the glorious king Ganapatideva the following edict assuring safety has been granted to sea traders starting for and arriving from all continents, islands, foreign countries, and cities:

Formerly kings used to take away by force the whole cargo—elephants, horses, gems, etc.—carried by ships and vessels which, after they had started from one country to another, were attacked by storms and wrecked ashore.

But We, out of mercy, for the sake of glory and merit, hereby pledge to leave everything except the fixed duty to those who have incurred the great risk of a sea-voyage with the thought that wealth is more valuable than even life.

The rate of this duty is one thirtieth on all exports and imports.

When a vessel reaches the port, it is met by sumbuqs, which are small boats, in each of which are a number of young men, each carrying a covered dish containing food. He presents this to one of the merchants on the ship saying “This is my guest,” and all the others do the same. Each merchant on disembarking goes only to the house of the young man who is his host, except those who have made frequent journeys to the town and know its people well; these live where they please. The host then sells his goods for him and buys for him, and if anyone buys anything from him at too low a price, or sells to him in the absence of his host, the sale is regarded by them as invalid. This practice is of great advantage to them. ...

We stayed there [in Mogadishu] three days, food being brought to us three times a day, and on the fourth, a Friday, the qadi [an Islamic magistrate or judge] and one of the wazirs [vizier, high-ranking minister] brought me a set of garments. We then went to the mosque and prayed behind the [sultan’s] screen. When the Shaykh [sultan] came out I greeted him and he bade me welcome. He put on his sandals, ordering the qadi and myself to do the same, and set out for his palace on foot. All the other people walked barefooted. Over his head were carried four canopies of coloured silk, each surmounted by a golden bird. After the palace ceremonies were over, all those present saluted and retired.

Inasmuch as we, through the office by which we possess the imperial dignity, are doubly—both as emperor and by the electoral right which we enjoy—bound to put an end to future danger of discords among the electors themselves, ... we have promulgated, decreed and recommended for ratification, the subjoined laws for the purpose of cherishing unity among the electors, and of bringing about a unanimous election, and of closing all approach to the aforesaid detestable discord and to the various dangers which arise from it. This we have done in our solemn court at Nuremberg, in session with all the electoral princes, ecclesiastical and secular, and amid a numerous multitude of other princes, counts, barons, magnates, nobles and citizens...

We decree, moreover, that our successor, the king for the time being of Bohemia, shall have the same right ... of coining gold and silver money and of circulating it in every way and manner observed up to this time in this same kingdom of Bohemia in such matters ...

We prohibit also each and every unjust war and feud, and all unjust burnings, spoliations and rapines, unlawful and unusual tolls and escorts, and the exactions usually extorted for such escorts, under the penalties by which the sacred laws prescribe that the foregoing offenses, and any one of them, are to be punished...

Moreover the imperial or royal table ought so to be arranged that it shall be elevated above the other tables in the hall by a height of six feet. And at it, on the day of a solemn court, shall sit no one at all except alone the emperor or king of the Romans...

It was by the grace of God, glory be to Him, that He came to the rescue of Islam, by reviving its last breath and restoring in Egypt the unity of the Muslims [in the mid-thirteenth century]. He did this by sending the Mamluks to the Muslims as guardian rulers and devoted defenders, who were imported as slaves from the lands of the heathen Qipchaq Turks. The Turkish slaves embrace Islam with the determination of true believers, while retaining their nomadic virtues.
The slave merchants bring them to Egypt in batch after batch. Then the rulers lodge them in the royal chambers, and give them a careful upbringing, including the study of the Qur’an. Then they train them in the use of the bow and the sword, in riding horses, and in fighting with the lance until they become tough and seasoned soldiers. When the rulers are convinced that they are prepared to defend and die for them, they increase their pay, lands, and incomes. Then they appoint them to high offices of state, and even sultans are chosen from them who direct the affairs of the Muslims.

We consider Buddhists to be a direct threat. For over 1500 years, Buddhism has been spreading in our kingdom, yet neither happiness nor profit has been gained. This is recorded in the historical books, which Your Majesty has certainly studied thoroughly. Must you wait for your ministers to tell you? We think of all the unorthodox teachings, Buddhism is the worst. The Buddhists live alone with their barbaric customs, apart from the common productive population; yet they cause the people to be poor and to steal. What is worse than their crimes? Beasts and birds that damage grain are certainly chased away because they harm the people. Yet even though beasts and birds eat the people’s food, they are nevertheless useful to the people. Buddhists, however, sit around and eat, and there has not yet been a visible profit.