THEME -7
AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL Vijay Nagar
(C. Fourteenth to sixteenth Century)
Key concepts in nutshell
- Discovery of Hampi - In 1799 the first British antiquarian Colin, Mackenzie. First surveyor general of Indian visited the ruins of Hampi, collected some manuscripts, had some water colours pained on monuments and made the first map of the site.
- The Rayas, Nayakas and Sultans - Harihara and Bukka asserted their independence of the Delhi Sultanate and established the kingdom of Vijyanagar on AD 1336.
- Kings and trading class - The warfare depended mainly upon powerful cavalry. The Portuguese settled on the west coast of India in attempt to establish their trading and military stations.
- The climax and decline of Vijaynagar Empire - Krishnadeva Raya was an able administrator. He built dams for irrigation. He built magnificent places and temples. Its ruler Rama Raya was miserably defeated on the battlefield of Rakshasi - Tangadi. Talikota in A.D. 1565. The victorious armies plundered and destroyed the city of Vijaynagar.
- Vijyanagar Hampi Architecture - The Vijyanagar architecture
(Hampi Architecture) of the period (1336-1365) was unique building style evolved by the imperial vijayanagar empire.
- Hampi Bazar - Portuguese travellers Paes and Nuniz visited Hampi in the mid 15th century.
They give an account of Hampi Bazar thus "in this street lived many merchants and there you will find all sort of rubies, diamonds pearls and cloths that you may wish to buy".
- Building and palaces - we know today about the Vijayanagar palaces and building is derived from the archeological excavations at Hampi as no royal palace structures have survived.
- King royal enclosure - Another important building at Hampi is the kings royal enclosure. Paes tells that against the gate there were two circles in which there were the dancing women richly arrayed with many jewels of gold and diamonds and many pearls.
- Mahanavami dibba - The Mahanavami dibba is located on one of the highest points in the city. It is a very large platform rising from a base of about 11000 feet to height of a 40 feet. It seems that it supported a wooden structure.
- Forts of Vijaynagar - in the constant struggle for power, fort and fortified settlements were a potent symbol of authority. The rulers of Vijaynagar empire created the cities with the main object of protection against invasions. The city itself was a fortress and designed as such in every manner.
OTQ (1 MARKS)
Q1: Who was / were the founder of Vijay nagar Empire ?
Ans: Two brothers Harihara & Bukka.
Q2: In which Area Gajapati rulers were rulling.
Ans: Orissa.
Q3: Local communities of merchants were known by which name ?
Ans: Kudirai Chetty.
Q4: How many dynasties were exercised control on Vijay nagar Empire?
Ans: 4 , (Sangam, Saluvas, Tuluvas, Aravidu)
Q5: What is the present name of Vijaynagar
Ans: Hampi .
Q6: Writer the name of Capital / Capitals of Vijayanagar Empire .
Ans: Vijaynagar , Penukonda , Chandragiri , respectively .
Q7: Battle year of the Talikota?
Ans: 1565 C.E.
Q8: Battle of Talikota was also known as another name –
Ans: Rakshasi – Tangadi
Q9: Who was the chief minister of Vijayanagar at that time?
Ans: Rama Raya.
Q10: Who was Abdur Razzaq.
Ans: An Ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to calicut .
Q.11.Who was Colonel Colin Mackenzie?
Ans.
a).An employee of the English East India Company.
b).Ruins at Hampi were brought to light in 1800
Q.12 What do you know about Gopuram ?
Ans: Gopuram is a large pyramidal tower constructed over the entrance gate of a temple.
Ans: Mandapam were pillared outdoor hall for public rituals
Q1.4 Why do you think agricultural tracts were incorporated within the fortified area?
Ans. To be prepared for their protection against the sieges
Q.15:- Hampi town is located in the bank of which river.
Ans. It is located on the bank of Tungabhadra river.
Q.16:- Who was Colin Mackenzie?
Ans. He was a famous engineer, surveyor and humanist.
Q.17:- How did the water requirements problems solved in Vijayanagar Empire?
Ans. The natural reservoir, providing water for Vijayanagar is Tungabhadra River.
S.A. (3-Marks)
Q18.Describe the main features of the temples in Vijayanagara Empire.
Ans.
1. Architects were influenced by the Indo-Islamic architectural styles.
2. Huge structure of temple.
3. Gopuram and Mandapas.
4. Temples were the symbol of Kings Power and resource.
5. Building of story upon story above the "garbhagriha" called Vimana.
6. Architecture was 'Dravida Style' but it had its own distinct features.
7. Temples have a Kalyanamandapa, used to music, dance, drama etc.
Q19. How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?
Ans.
*Water requirements of Vijayanagara were met by the river Tungabhadra.
* Tanks were made to overcome this problem.
* Kamalapuram tank was used for irrigation and needs of the royal centers.
* Hiriya canal was the most prominent water works.
Q.20. What is Amara - Nayaka System?
Ans. It was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Many features of this system were derived from Delhi Sultanate.
Long Answer - (8 Marks)
Q.21.Describe the main causes responsible for the downfall of Vijayanagara Empire.
Ans. Weakness of the Central Government.
1. Weak successor.
2. Rules of the different dynasties.
3. Continuos struggles against Bahamani Empire.
4. Role of Army.
5. Battle of Talikota.
Q.22. Describe the salient features of the administration of Vijayanagara Empire.
Ans.
1. The King.
2. Cabinet minister.
3. Provincial Government.
4. Local administration.
5. Judicial administration.
6. Financial administration.
7. Amar Nayak System.
Q.23. Describe the contribution of Krishnadeva Raya the greatest King of the Vijayanagara.
Ans.
1. His period is characterized by expansion and consolidation.
2. Broad toleration prevailed in his empire.
3. After a series of battles Vijayanagara emerged as a strongest military power.
4. Preach and Prosperity.
5. Efficient administration under his sway.
6. Productive agriculture.
7. Flourished inland coastal and overseas trade.
8. He was a great builder.
9. He was a scholar of Telugu and patron of Telugu, Kannada and Tamil poets.
10. He was a man of justice.
Passage based Question:
The bazaar Paes gives a vivid description of the bazaar: Going forward, you have a broad and beautiful street … In this street live many merchants, and there you will find all sorts of rubies, and diamonds, and emeralds, and pearls, and seed-pearls, and cloths, and every other sort of thing there is on earth and that you may wish to buy. Then you have there every evening a fair where they sell many common horses and nags, and also many citrons, and limes, and oranges, and grapes, and every other kind of garden stuff, and wood; you have all in this street. More generally, he described the city as being “the best provided city in the world” with the markets “stocked with provisions such as rice, wheat, grains, India corn and a certain amount of barley and beans, moong, pulses and horsegram” all of which were cheaply and abundantly available. According to Fernao Nuniz, the Vijayanagara markets were “overflowing with abundance of fruits, grapes and oranges, limes, pomegranates, jackfruit and mangoes and all very cheap”. Meat too was sold in abundance in the marketplaces. Nuniz describes “mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves, quail and all kinds of birds, sparrows, rats and cats and lizards” as being sold in the market of Bisnaga (Vijayanagara).
(i) How did Ibn Battuta describe about the bazaar?
Ans- All sorts of rubies, and diamonds, and emeralds, and pearls, and seed-pearls, and cloths; merchants living here; every evening a fair where they sell many common horses and nags, and also many citrons, and limes, and oranges, and grapes, and every other kind of garden stuff and wood.
(ii) What did Fernao Nuniz say about market of vegetables?
Ans- Overflowing with abundance of fruits, grapes and oranges, limes,
pomegranates, jackfruit and mangoes and all very cheap”. Meat too was sold in
abundance in the marketplaces.
(iii) What kind of arrangements were there for the provision of water in Vijayanagar empire?
Ans- Natural basin of Tungabhadra; Streams from the rocky outcrops;
Kamalapuram Tank; Hiriya canal.
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