Why were the Europeans during the nineteenth century interested in the Stupas ? Give two reasons.
The European interested in Stupas: Nineteenth-century Europeans like the French and English sought Shahjehan Begum’s permission to take away the eastern gateway, which was the best preserved, to be displayed in museums in France and England. Cunningham look drawings of the place deciphered the inscription and bored shafts down these domes. According to the letter written by Cunningham, about his interest in stupas :
- One reason was numismatics as he found several gold coins and artefacts while excavating stupas.
- Second reason was he wanted to trace the history of Buddhism, compare it with Brahminism and wanted to make the task of the missionaries easier.