The Sons of the Sword

What is inside

1766, Karim Khan learned that a group of British merchants had come to Shiraz to meet him. By then, the British had seized much of southern and eastern India, and many knew they had entered under the guise of merchants. When the group met him, the British men eagerly presented a plate to Karim Khan. He examined its design, threw it to the ground, and it shattered. Karim Khan said to his servant, “Bring me one of our copper dishes.” Karim Khan threw the dish to the ground. It remained intact. “See?” he said to the British. “Iranians are better off using these copper dishes. They don’t need your goods.”