Here we are providing Class 12 History Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara. Class 12 History Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 History Chapter 7 Important Extra Questions An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Who founded the ruins of Hampi?
Answer:
Colonel Colin MacKenzie founded the ruins of Hampi.

Question 2.
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E.?
Answer:
Two brothers Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 A.D.

Question 3.
Which European company arrived on the Indian scene in 1498 A.D.?
Answer:
The Portugues.

Question 4.
Who was the most powerful ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Answer:
Krishnadeva Raya.

Question 5.
When did Krishnadeva Raya die?
Answer:
In 1529 A.D.

Question 6.
Between whom the battle of Rakshasi- Tangadi was fought?
Answer:
Between Vijayanagara and the combined forces of Bijapur Ahmadnagar and Golconda.

Question 7.
Name the major political innovation of the Vijayanagara empire.
Answer:
The system of Amara-Nayakas.

Question 8.
Who were the Amara-Nayakas?
Answer:
They were the military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya or the Kings.

Question 9.
What is Mahanavami dibba?
Answer:
It was the massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 feet to a height of 40 feet.

Question 10.
Where did kings meet advisers?
Answer:
At Lotus Mahal.

Question 11.
Which temple was used by the King and his family?
Answer:
Hazara Rama Temple.

Question 12.
When and by whom was the ‘ Vijayanagara Empire founded? Also, explain its expansion.
Or
Who founded the Vijayanagara ‘.Empire in 1336 C.E.? (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Two brothers namely Harihara and Bukka laid the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E. It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

Question 13.
Name different dynasties that ruled over Vijayanagara.
Answer:

  1. Sangam dynasty
  2. Saluva dynasty
  3. Tuluva dynasty
  4. Aravind dynasty.

Question 14.
What was the period of rule by Krishna Deva Raya? Which two cities of Bahmani Kingdom were controlled by him?
Answer:
Krishna Deva Raya ruled from 1509 to 1529 C.E. He had controlled both Gulbarga and Bidar.

Question 15. Between whom was the battle of Talikota (Rakshasi Tangadi) fought? Name the Kingdom defeated in this battle.
Or
What was the battle of ‘Rakshasi Tangadi’ (Talikota)? (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Or
Examine the outcome of the battle of Rakshasi – Tangadi (Talikota). (C.B.S.E. 2017 (O.D.))
Answer:
The battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the organization of Sultans of Deccan and ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. The Kingdom of Vijayanagara was defeated in this battle.

Question 16.
How did the name Hampi (another name for Vijayanagara) come into use? When and who discovered its ruins?
Answer:
Hampi was another name for Vijayanagara. This name was derived from the local mother goddess named Pampadevi. The ruins of Hampi were discovered in 1800 C.E. by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer, and antiquarian. In fact, Colin Mackenzie was an employee of the English East India Company.

Question 17.
Who was Amara-Nayakas? Identify any two works done by them.
Or
Who were the Amara-Nayakas under the Rayas in Vijayanagara? What did they do? (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
Amara-Nayakas were the military commanders of Vijayanagara. They performed the following works :

  • They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, traders, and craft persons.
  • They provided an effective fighting force to the rulers of Vijayanagara.

Question 18.
Give any two features of Mahanavami Dibba of Vijayanagara.
Answer:

  1. Mahanavami Dibba is a massive platform located on one of the highest points in the city. It supported a wooden structure as well.
  2. The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings.

Question 19.
Mention any two ceremonies performed on the occasion of Mahanavmi Dibba. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:

  1. Worship of the image
  2. Worship of the State horse

Question 20.
Mention the two most striking features about the geographical location of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:

  1. The most striking feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in a northeasterly direction.
  2. The huge fortification was another major feature of Vijayanagara.

Question 21.
Mention the rituals associated with Mahanavmi Dibba, situated in the Royal Centre of Vijayanagar. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:

  • Worship of the image
  • Worship of the State horse
  • The sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.

Question 22.
What was the Battle of ‘Rakshasi Tangadi’ (Talikota)? How was this battle responsible for the decline of Vijayanagara?
Answer:
The Battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the combined forces of the Deccan Sultans and the ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. In this battle Vijayanagara was defeated which led to the decline of Vijayanagara.

Question 23.
Which dynasty did Krishna Deva Raya belong to? Mention any one of his expansion and consolidation (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Krishna Deva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty. Till 1512 C.E. he took control over the areas between Tungabhadra and Krishna river. Then he suppressed the rulers of Orissa (Odisha).

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Give a brief description of ceremonies and special attractions related to Mahanavami Dibba of the city of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Rituals associated with this structure probably coincided with Mahanavami of the ten-day Hindu festival during the months of September and October, known variously as Dushera in northern India, Durga Pooja in Bengal and Navaratri in peninsular India. The rulers of Vijayanagara displayed their power, prestige and sovereignty on this occasion.

Main ceremonies associated with this occasion were the worship of the image, worship of the State horse, the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals, etc.

Main attractions of this occasion were

  1. Dances,
  2. Wrestling matches,
  3. Procession of caparison horses, elephants and chariots and soldiers,
  4. Ritual presentation by Nayaks and the subordinate kings before the king and his guests to mark the occasion. These ceremonies had great symbolic meaning. King used to inspect his army and armies of the Nayaks in a grand ceremony in an open field on the last day of the festival. Nayaks, on this occasion, used to bring rich gifts and stipulated tribute for the king.

Question 2.
Comment on the Lotus Mahal and Hazara Ram Temple of Vijayanagara.
Or
Give a brief description of Lotus Mahal, situated in the Royal Centre in the Vijayanagara empire. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Lotus Mahal: The royal centre of Vijayanagara had a very beautiful building. It was named as the Lotus Mahal by a British traveller in the nineteenth century. It seems to be a romantic name. However, it is still not clear to many historians what the building was used for. Mackenzie considered it to be a council chamber, a place where the king used to meet his advisers.

Hazara Rama Temple: This temple had a spectacular architecture. It was probably used only by the king and his family. No image has been found in this temple. But it had sculpted panels on the walls. These included the scenes from the Ramayana on the inner walls.

Question 3.
For what purpose were the halls of the Virupaksha temple used? What were the features of the chariot streets that existed in the temple complexes?
Or
How were the halls in Virupaksha Temple used? Mention any two purposes, (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Or
“The Virupaksha Temple developed as significant architectural, religions and cultural centre.” Explain the statement with suitable examples. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (D))
Answer:
The Virupaksha Temple was built in the ninth-tenth centuries. It had a hall in front of the main shrine. This hall was constructed by Krishna Deva Raya to mark his accession to the throne. Such halls were used for a variety of purposes. In some of these halls, the images of gods were placed. In a few other halls, special programmes of music, dance and drama were held. Few other halls were used to celebrate the marriages of deities. In some other halls, the swings of the deities were installed.

The chariot streets extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line. They were paved with slabs of stone. They had lines of pillared pavilions wherein the merchants set up their shops.

Question 4.
Who were Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas? Describe their role in the administration of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas were the military chiefs and military commanders respectively of Vijayanagara kingdom.

Role of Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas in Administration:

Nayaks: Nayakas generally controlled the forts and had armed supporters with them. They moved from one place to another and were sometimes accompanied by peasants in search of fertile land. They generally spoke Telugu and Kannada languages. Many Nayakas surrendered to the authority of the rulers of Vijayanagara. But they often rebelled and had to be suppressed by military actions.

Amara-Nayakas: The Amara-Nayakas were military commanders. They were given territories by Rayas to govern. They used to collect taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons and traders. They used to keep some portion of the revenue with them for their personal use and for maintaining a fixed number of horses and elephants.

They used to submit the rest of the revenue in the state treasury. Their contingents used to provide military help to Vijayanagara rulers if any need arose. Through their help, rulers controlled the whole of the southern peninsula. Some portion of revenue was spent on temple and maintenance of the means of irrigation.

Question 5.
Explain the reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Answer:
The following are the reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire :

  1. All the power of the state was vested in the hands of the king. The people had no role in the administration of the state. So they did not help the king at the time of crisis.
  2. The successors of Krishna Deva Raya were troubled by rebellious Nayakas or military chiefs. These rebellions weakened the position of the king.
  3. All the successors of Krishna Deva Raya were very weak. They had to fight many wars against the Deccan Sultanates. All these harmed the Vijayanagara Empire.
  4. There was an alliance of the Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
  5. The central control had shifted to another ruling lineage, that of the Aravidu in the 17th century.
  6. In 1565 C.E., Rama Raya, the Chief Minister of Vijayanagara, fought a war against the combined armies of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda at Talikota. He lost this war and was also killed. After his defeat, the victorious armies ransacked the whole city of Vijayanagara and the city was totally abandoned within a year.

Question 6.
Explain the administration of the rulers of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
The main features of the administration of Vijayanagara were as follows :

  1. The chief of the central administration in Vijayanagara was the king. He held all the powers of administration. There was also a provision of the council to help the king.
  2. The state of Vijayanagara was divided into 200 provinces. The chief of the province was called the Prantpati who belonged to the royal family and at times too powerful and wealthy families.
  3. For the convenience of the Prantpatis, every province was divided into districts and the districts were divided into Parganas which were further divided into villages.
  4. There was a provision for a powerful army for the protection of the state. It had horses and soldiers.
  5. The chief judge of the state was the king himself. In provinces, the Prantpati or subedar delivered justice. The punishments were very severe.
  6. The land revenue was the main source of income of the state. The farmers had to pay 1/6 to l/4th of the produce of the crop as the land revenue. The economic condition of the farmers was good. They enjoyed all the comforts of life.

Question 7.
Explain how Krishan Deva ‘Raya’s death affected the Vijayanagar empire. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Or
“Strain began to show within the imperial structure following Krishna Deva Raya’s death in 1529.” Critically •
examine the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Or
Why did strain begin to show within; ‘ the imperial structure after the death • of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529? (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Or
Why did the imperial power of Vijayanagara decline after the death of Krishna Deva Raya?
Answer:
After the death of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529, the royal structure witnessed tensions. The royal inheritors had to face opposition from rebellious heroes and commanders. As a result, the control of Aravidu Dynasty was established over Vijayanagara by 1524 C.E. It held its control over the royal authority till the 17th century. Even during this period, the relations between the rulers of Vijayanagara and the Sultans of the Deccan remained strained because they nurtured ambitions which vacillated balance between the two times and again.

At last, friendship was established between the rulers of Vijayanagara and the Sultans of the Deccan. In 1565, the army of Vijayanagara, under the leadership of Prime Minister Rama Raya fought at Talikota. Here it was defeated by the armies of the Sultans of Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Golconda. The victorious soldiers attacked Vijayanagara and plundered it. The city was completely destroyed in a few years. Now the centre of empire moved towards the East. Here, the Aravidu Dynasty ruled from Penunkonda and after it Chandragiri near Tirupati.

Question 8.
Describe the significance of temple building in the Sacred Centre of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Temple building in the region had a long history going back to dynasties like Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Hoysalas. Rulers generally encouraged temple building to associate themselves with the divine. Often the deity was implicitly or explicitly identified with the king. Temples also functioned as centres of learning. Rulers often granted land or money for the maintenance of temples. As a result, temples developed as important social, religious, cultural and economic centres. For rulers, construction, repair and maintenance of temples were important means of winning support and recognition for their power, wealth and piety.

It is quite possible that the choice of Vijayanagara site was encouraged by the existence of the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. In fact, the Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha.

Many new elements were innovated in temple building. These include making of large structures. These structures were symbols of royal authority.

Question 9.
Describe briefly what the buildings that survived tell us about the way, spaces were organised and used in Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Buildings which survived tell us about the way spaces were organised and used in Vijayanagara. For example, we can assess the defence requirements and military preparedness of a city by studying its fortifications. Buildings also tell us about the spread of ideas and cultural influences if we compare them with buildings in other places. They convey ideas which the builders or their patrons wished to project. They are often suffused with symbols which are a product of their cultural context. These we can understand when we combine information from other sources like literature, inscriptions and popular traditions.

Question 10.
Explain briefly any five striking features about the location of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D))
Answer:

  1. The natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in a northeasterly direction.
  2. The surrounding landscape is characterised by stunning granite hills that seem to form a girdle around the city.
  3. A number of streams and rivers flow down from these rocky outcrops.
  4. In almost all cases embankments were built along these streams to create reservoirs of varying sizes.
  5. As this is one of the aridest zones of the peninsula, elaborate arrangements had to be made to store rainwater and conduct it to the city.

Question 11.
“The rulers of Vijayanagara innovated and developed new traditions in the Virupaksha Temple”. Elaborate. (C.B.S.E. 2015 (D))
Answer:

  1. The site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the existence of the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. The Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha.
  2. All royal orders were signed in the name of “Shri Virupaksha” usually in Kannada script.
  3. Rulers also indicated their close links with the gods by using the title ‘Hindu Suratrana’. It was a Sanskritisation of the Arabic term Sultan, meaning Hindu Sultan or King.
  4. Royal portrait sculpture was displayed in temples, and the king’s visits to temples were treated as important state occasions on which he was accompanied by the important Nayakas of the empire.

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Give a brief description of emergence and destruction of the Vijayanagara empire.
Answer:
Members of ruling lineage and military commanders were among the claimants of power of the Vijayanagara empire.
Initial Three Dynasties: The first dynasty that ruled over Vijayanagara was Sangama dynasty. This dynasty ruled till 1485 C.E. They were supplanted by the Saluvas, who were the military commanders. They remained in power till 1503 C.E. and were replaced by Tuluvas. Krishna Deva Raya was the most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty.

The main feature of the rule of Krishna Deva Raya was his expansion and consolidation. Till 1512 C.E. he took control over the areas between Tungabhadra and Krishna river (Raichur Doab). Then he suppressed the rulers of Orissa. He also defeated the Sultan of Bijapur in 1520 C.E. Although the kingdom always remained in the state of military preparedness still it flourished under the atmosphere of peace and prosperity. Krishna Deva is also credited with the construction of few splendid temples and impressive gopurams in many important temples. He also founded a suburban town of Nagalapuram after the name of his mother.

Aravind Dynasty and Decline of Vijayanagara Empire: Strains came in the imperial structure after the death of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529 C.E. His successors had to face the challenge of rebel Nayaks or Commanders. In the end, the centre came under the control of Aravidu dynasty in 1542 C.E. This dynasty remained in power till 17th century. During this period, like earlier one, alignments kept on shifting due to military ambitions of Vijayanagara rulers and Deccan Sultanates.

These ambitions led to an alliance of Deccan Sultanates against the Vijayanagara. In 1565 C.E., the chief minister of Vijayanagara, Rama Raya, led the army against the Sultanates army in the battle of Rakshasi-Tangradi. There his forces were routed by the combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda. Afterwards, the city was plundered by the victorious army. Within a few years, this city was totally abandoned. Now the entire focus of the empire was shifted to the east where the Aravidu dynasty ruled from Penukonda and later from Chandragiri.

Question 2.
What was the role of Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas in the administration of Vijayanagara?
Or
Explain how the Amara-Nayakas system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire? (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.)), (2015, (D))
Or
“Arnar Nayakas system was a major political innovation of Vijayanagara empire,” Justify. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.D.))
Or
Why was Amar Nayakas system considered as a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara empire? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (Comp.))
Answer:
The Nayakas and the Amara-Nayakas exercised considerable power in the Vijayanagara Empire.

Nayakas: They were the military chiefs in the Vijayanagara Empire and usually controlled forts. They had armed supporters and often moved from one area to another. In many cases, they were accompanied by peasants who looked for fertile land for their settlement. They were called Nayakas as their role was quite significant. They usually spoke in Telugu or Kannada language. They were mostly submissive to the authority of the kings of Vijayanagara. But sometimes they also rose in rebellion and had to be controlled by military action.

Amara-Nayakas: The Amara-Nayakas were a major political innovation of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. They were the military commanders who governed the territories given by the kings of Vijayanagara. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, traders and craft-persons in their areas. A part of the revenue was kept for their personal use and maintaining their horses and elephants. They provided an effective fighting force to the rulers of Vijayanagara. They also kept some of the collected revenue for the maintenance of temples and irrigation works.

The Royal Control over the Amara-Nayakas: At times when Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas revolted, the kings asserted their control on them and made them submit to the royal authority. The kings adopted the following means to control them :

  • They transferred Amara-Nayakas from one place to another.
  • They accepted an annual tribute from the Amara-Nayakas.
  • All the Amara-Nayakas had to appear in the royal court personally. They had to present gifts to the king to express their loyalty.

Question 3.
Discuss the water resources, fortification and roads of Vijayanagara.
Or
Explain how the fortification and roads in the city of Vijayanagara were unique and impressive.
Or
Explain the striking features about the location of Vijayanagara, its water resources and its fortification. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Or
Explain why Abdur Razzaq, a Persian Ambassador, was greatly impressed by the fortification of Vijayanagara Empire during the 15th century. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Or
“Domingo Paes and Abdur Razzaq I were highly impressed with the fortification of the Vijayanagara empire.” Justify the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2014, 2019 (D))
Or
Highlight any four aspects observed by Abdur Razzak on the fortification of the Vijayanagara Empire. (C.B.S.E. 2016 (D))
Or
Explain the significance of enclosing of agricultural land within the fortified area of the city of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (O.D.))
Answer:
Water Resources: To fulfil their water requirements, the rulers of Vijayanagara, built reservoirs of varying sizes. As this city was in the aridest zones of the peninsula, the rulers made elaborate arrangements to store rainwater and take it to the city. They built a very large tank in the early years of the fifteenth century.

It is now called Kamalapuram Tank. This water not only irrigated the fields but also served the royal centre. The water of the river Tungabhadra was also fully utilised. Besides, there was the Hiriya Canal which drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra river. This canal, built by kings of the Sangama Dynasty irrigated the cultivated valley.

Fortifications: Different parts of the city of Vijayanagara were enclosed with the great fortress walls. There were seven lines of forts which not only encircled the city of Vijayanagara but also its agricultural land and forests. The outer-most wall linked the hills surrounding the city. This wall was built with wedge-shaped blocks of stone. They fixed well into each other and did not require mortar or any cementing agent. The inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble.

This fortification enclosed agricultural tracts like cultivated fields, gardens and forests. The modern archaeologists have found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core. To irrigate this tract, there was an elaborate canal system which drew water from the Tungabhadra.

The agricultural tracts were incorporated within the fortified area with a purpose. In the medieval periods, sieges were laid to starve the defenders into submission. These sieges could last even for months and years. So the rulers built large granaries within the fortified areas. Therefore the rulers of Vijayanagara adopted an elaborate strategy to protect their agricultural belt.

However, the second line of fortification surrounded the inner core of the urban complex and the third line of fortification went round the royal centre. There were well-guarded gates to enter the fort which led to the major roads. They had distinctive architectural features. There was an arch on the gateway and a dome over the gate.

Roads: The roads linked different parts of the city of Vijayanagara. They also led out of the city, went through the whole valley and avoided rocky terrain. Many important roads started from temple gateways and were lined by bazaars.

Question 4.
Explain the main features of the Sacred Centre.
Answer:
The site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. The northern end of the city touched the banks of the Tungabhadra. It was a rocky and hilly area. According to a local tradition, the kingdoms of Bali and Sugriva, mentioned in the Ramayana, existed in these hills. There is another tradition that Pampadevi, the local mother goddess, did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom. The marriage is annually celebrated in the Virupaksha temple. Besides, there were Jaina temples in the pre- Vijayanagara period. In other words, this area was associated with many sacred traditions. Hence it is called the Sacred Centre.

The very choice of the site of Vijayanagara was inspired by these sacred traditions and temples. The kings of Vijayanagara claimed to rule on behalf of the god, Virupaksha. They signed all royal orders as ‘Shri Virupaksha’. They often signed in the Kannad script. However, the rulers of Vijayanagara not only developed but also innovated the earlier traditions. They displayed royal portrait sculpture in the temples. The visit of the kings to temples was treated as an important occasion. So he was accompanied by Important Nayakas.

Question 5.
Give a brief description of the rule of Krishna Deva Raya.
Or
“Krishna Deva Raya’s rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation.” Justify the statement on the bases of evidence. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (D))
Or
Highlight the contribution of Krishnadeva Raya in the expansion of the Vijayanagara Empire. (C.B.S.E. 2016 (D))
Or
Why the Krishna Deva Raya considered as the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (Comp.))
Answer:
There prevailed chaos in the Vijayanagara Kingdom after the death of Deva Raya II. Gradually the old Sangam Dynasty came to an end. Under these circumstances, Krishna Deva Raya founded the Tuluva Dynasty and himself began to rule over Vijayanagara. He ruled from 1509 till 1529 C.E. Following were his main achievements:

Expansion of the Kingdom: Krishna Deva Raya had to compete with old enemies of Vijayanagara, i.e., successors of the Bahmani Kingdom and Orissa. After fighting many battles for seven years, he forced Orissa to return the conquered areas of Vijayanagara up to Krishna river. Then he consolidated his position and began his earlier battle for Tungabhadra Doab. As a result, two of his enemies, Orissa and Bijapur, came in an alliance with each other. Krishna Deva had also made enough preparations and attacked Raipur and Mudhkal.

Sultan of Bijapur lost in the battle in 1520 C.E. Krishna Deva forced him to move back beyond Krishna river. Then his army reached Belgium. He conquered Bijapur and plundered the whole city and also destroyed Gulbarga. In this way, during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya, the Vijayanagara kingdom became one of the strongest kingdoms of Deccan.

Great Architect and Scholar: Krishna Deva Raya himself was a great scholar. He built a new suburban town near Vijayanagara and built a large tank which was used for irrigation purposes. He was a very good scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit. Out of a number of texts written by him, only a book on politics in Telugu and a Sanskrit play is available these days. A new era of Telugu literature began during his reign and scholars started to write in Telugu instead of translating from Sanskrit. He was very fond of poetry and used to patronage Telugu as well as Kannada and Tamil poets.

Good Administrator: Many foreign travellers like Barbosa, Paes and Fernao Nuniz wrote about his good administration and prosperity of the kingdom during his reign. One of the major achievements of Krishna Deva Raya was the emergence of a sense of tolerance as everyone was free to move anywhere. No one was asked about his religion and was free to adopt one’s religious practices. Barbosa also praised Krishna Deva Raya for his justice and equality in the kingdom.

In the end, it is clear that Krishna Deva Raya was the greatest of all the rulers of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

Question 6.
Describe the administrative system of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.
Answer:
The administrative system of the Vijayanagara Kingdom is given below :

  1. King: Head of the central administration in Vijayanagara was himself the king. He had unlimited powers and rights. He had made a system of the council of ministers for his help. But its only function was to provide advice to the king.
  2. Council of Ministers: A system of the council of ministers was made to give help and advice to the king. It included the ministers, purohita, military commander, etc. All of these were appointed by the king himself.
  3. Provincial Administration: Vijayanagara was divided into 200 provinces. Every province was administered by a Prantpati (Governor) and these were either related with the royal family or were powerful nobles. They were also appointed by the king himself.
  4.  Local Administration: While keeping in mind the convenience of administration, every province was divided into districts. The district was further divided into Parganas and it was further divided into villages. Administration of the village was given to gram panchayat. Major officer of all these institutions was known as Iyengar.
  5. Military Organisation: Vijayanagara was engaged in constant conflict with Bahmani SultAnswer: As a result, local rulers had to give special attention to their military organisation. Military of Vijayanagara kingdom was of two types-provincial military and central army. The army included elephants, horses and infantry. Cavalry was a major part of the army.
  6. Judicial System: King himself used to perform the function of Chief Justice in the Vijayanagara kingdom. Iyengar in villages, prantpati in provinces used to perform this work. Very strict punishments were there. Punishment of amputating the limb of the body was given for serious crimes but people were only fined for minor crimes.
  7. Land Revenue System: King himself was the owner of the whole of the land in the Vijayanagara kingdom. He used to divide this land to the landlord who used to further divide among farmers. Farmers had to pay 1/ 6th or l/4th of produce to the landlord as land revenue. The economic condition of farmers was the very good end they had every available comfort in life.

Question 7.
Explain the social and economic conditions of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
The social and economic condition of Vijayanagara is as follows :
Social Condition :
1.Respect for Brahnlans: The Brahmans were greatly respected in the state of Vijayanagara. They attained a supreme position in the state. Even when they committed a crime, they were not given the punishment of death. They led a pious life and were vegetarians were: They never touched meat and wine. They were an ideal and role model for others.

2. Place of Women: The women were given a lot of respect in Vijayanagara. They could even get higher education. They had no purdah system. They were also educated in warfare and fine arts.

3. Malpractices: The society of Vijayanagara had many malpractices. The animals were sacrificed to please gods and goddesses. The practice of Sati was very popular in society. Even the Telugu women were buried alive after the deaths of their husbands. Besides, there was an evil of prostitution. Deva Raya II had twelve thousand queens. He had married three thousand queens on the condition that they would perform Sati after his death.

Economic Condition: The economic condition of Vijayanagara was prosperous. Its land was fertile and there was enough trading activity. The rulers of Vijayanagara had good relations with the Portuguese. There was trading of Arabian horses. The sea coasts of Vijayanagara had many ports. Calicut was a famous sea-port during those days. It was used to trade with Burma, China, Iran, Arabia, Portugal and South Africa.

It was used to export cloth, rice, sugar, iron and spices and import horses, elephants, copper, silk and diamond jewellery. The merchants had established their trade centres. There was a currency of gold and silver. It facilitated the exchange of goods. Besides the trade, there was great progress in industry and agriculture. The main occupation of the people was weaving cloth, mining of minerals and to prepare metal goods.

Question 8.
In which circumstances was Vijayanagara kingdom founded? Who were its famous rulers and to which dynasties did they belong?
Or
Describe the stages by which the Vijayanagara empire was built. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 C.E. Its founders were two brothers called Harihara and Bukka Raya. They founded a city called Vijayanagara on the banks of river Tungabhadra. Gradually, this city was transformed into the large Hindu Kingdom. This kingdom was ruled over by three dynasties:

  1. Sangama dynasty
  2. Saluva dynasty
  3. Tuluva dynasty

Rulers: Some of the famous rulers of Vijayanagara kingdom are given below:

  1. Harihara I: Harihara I himself founded the Vijayanagara with the help of his brother Bukka Raya. He belonged to Sangama dynasty. He expanded the frontiers of his kingdom from Krishna river till Kaveri river and from eastern ghats till western ghats.
  2. Bakka Raya I: After Harihara I, Bukka Raya became the next king. He also belonged to Sangama dynasty. He beautified the city of Vijayanagara and fought wars with Bahmani rulers.
  3. Harihara II and Devaraya II: These two were the last famous rulers of Sangama dynasty. Devaraya appointed Muslims in his army. He greatly increased the prestige of Vijayanagara.
  4. Krishna Deva Raya: Krishna Deva Raya was the most famous ruler of Tuluva dynasty. He ruled from 1509 till 1530 C.E. First of all, he suppressed the revolts of Nayakas. Then he conquered the region of Raichur Doab. Under his reign, the prestige of Vijayanagara spread everywhere.
  5. Sadashiv Raya: He was the last ruler of Tuluva dynasty. During his reign, rulers of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar made an alliance and attacked Vijayanagara. Army of Vijayanagara was defeated in 1565 C.E. in the battle of Talikota. The victorious army sacked the city of Vijayanagara and conquered its area. In this way, Vijayanagara kingdom completely came to an end.

Question 9.
Explain the importance of the Sacred Centre in Vijayanagara with special emphasis on Gopurams and Mandapas. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
The rulers of Vijayanagara incorporated many new elements in the establishment of temples.

1. They include extensive structures. These structures stood for royal authority. The best examples of these structures were Rai Gopuram and State Entrance Gates. The minarets of Central Devalayas seemed quite tiny before these Entrance Gates. One could, from a long distance, visualise the existence of a temple from these minarets which also reminded of the royal authority. In fact, the rulers of Vijayanagara were competent to provide means, technology and technique to build such huge structures.

2. Another main characteristic of these temples was big porches, long pillars and vast spaces. These porches were made around all the sides of the temples.

3. Hundreds of years were spent in the construction of the Virupaksha temple. Many carved stones depict that many of the temples were built in the 9th and the 10th centuries. But there was a great expansion in the construction of many temples after the establishment of the Vijayanagara empire.

There was a great porch in front of the main temple. It was built by Krishna Dev Raya regarding his coronation. It was decorated with beautifully engraved pillars. Krishna Deva Raya is also credited with the construction of Eastern Gopuram. It meant that the Central Devalaya was confined to a limited part of the whole complex.

4. The temple had many conference halls which were used for different purposes. Some meeting halls had idols of gods and goddesses so that they may have a glimpse of music, dance and plays. Another conference hall was used to enjoy festive marriages of gods and goddesses. In many other halls, the gods and goddesses were placed on the swings. There were special idols for such purposes which were different from those placed in the Central Devalayas.

Another famous devotional place is the Vitthala Temple. The main god of this temple was Vitthala. He was the incarnation of Vishnu who is mostly worshipped in Maharashtra. The worship of this god was started in Karnataka by the rulers of Vijayanagara. It symbolised the emergence of empirical culture. Like other temples, this temple also had many conference halls. It also had a beautiful temple which was in the shape of a chariot.

5. Another characteristic of the temple premises was that they had chariot lanes. They were in straight lines just as in the temple of Gopuram. They had a floor made of stone. On both sides, it had a pillared porch. The traders set up their shops in these porches. Some of the north-facing Gopurams were built by the local heroes.

6. Besides the establishment of temples, the kingdom had fortifications, water-reservoirs, canals and roads. The architects made use of Islamic architecture in the erection of pillars and tombs. Thus, an Indo-Islamic style developed in the field of architecture.

Question 10.
Describe the main features of the temples of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
The city of Vijayanagara was developed on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Its northern part was mountainous. According to local beliefs, these mountains belonged to the Ramayana period. They saved the Kingdom of Sughreev. There are a few other beliefs among the local people. Some believe that the local deity Pampa Devi had meditated amidst these mountains to marry Virupaksha. The patron of Virupaksha were Gods. He was considered a form of Lord Shiva. Till today their marriage is celebrated with great pomp and show in the Virupaksha Temple. These mountains of Vijayanagara also have an ancient Jain Temple. In fact, this city is associated with many religious beliefs.

The region has a long history of temple construction. It goes up to the extent of Pallav, Chalukya, Hoysala and Chaul Dynasties. The rulers constructed temples to seek divine blessings. The god was directly or indirectly linked to the king. These temples also served as educational centres. The rulers donated land or money for these temples. Thus, the temples became important religious, social, cultural and economic centres. The rulers had abundant resources to make and maintain these temples.

There were many new innovations in the domain of temple construction. They had huge structures. These structures were the symbol of royal authority. The best examples of these structures included gopurams and Royal Entrance Gate. Due to these huge entrance gate, the minarets of the Central Devalayas seemed quite small. These minarets show the existence of temples from the very distance. They also reminded about the royal authority which had resources, skill and technology to construct them. These temples also had mandapas and Porches with long pillars.

Question 11.
Outline the distinctive features of the Virupaksha temple and the Vitthala temple in the Royal Centre of Vijayanagara Empire. (C.B.S.E. 2017 (D.))
Answer:
The city of Vijayanagara was developed on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Its northern part was mountainous. According to local beliefs, these mountains belonged to the Ramayana period. They saved the Kingdom of Sughreev. There are a few other beliefs among the local people. Some believe that the local deity Pampa Devi had meditated amidst these mountains to marry Virupaksha. The patron of Virupaksha were Gods. He was considered a form of Lord Shiva. Till today their marriage is celebrated with great pomp and show in the Virupaksha Temple. These mountains of Vijayanagara also have an ancient Jain Temple. In fact, this city is associated with many religious beliefs.

The region has a long history of temple construction, It goes up to the extend of Pallav Chalukya, Hoysala and Chaul Dynasties. The rulers constructed temples to seek divine blessings. The god was directly or indirectly linked to the king. These temples also served as educational centres. The rulers donated land or money for these temples. Thus, the temples became important religious, social, cultural and economic centres. The rulers had abundant resources to make and maintain these temples.

There were many new innovations to the domain to temple construction. They had huge structures. These structures were the symbol of royal authority. The best examples of these structures included gopurams and Royal Entrance Gate. Due to these huge entrance gate, the minarets of the Central Devalayas seemed quite small. These minerals show the existence of temples from the very distance. They also reminded about to royal authority which had resources, skill and technology to construct them. These temples also had mandapas and Porches with long pillars.

The Virupaksha Temple was built in the ninth- tenth centuries. It had a hall in front of the main shrine. This hall was constructed by Krishna Deva Raya to mark his accession to the throne. Such halls were used for a variety of purposes. In some of these halls, the images of gods were placed. In a few other halls, special programmes of music, dance and drama were held. Few other halls were used to celebrate the marriages of parties. In some other halls, the swings of the deities were installed.

The chariot streets extended from the temple Gopuram in a straight line. They were served with slabs of stone. They had lines of pillared pavilions wherein the merchants set up their shops.

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
Mention any two features about the location of the city of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Answer:

  1. Vijayanagara had an impressive fortification. This fortification enclosed agricultural tracts, like cultivated fields, gardens and houses.
  2. The second line of fortification encircled the inner core of the urban complex whereas the third fortification surrounded the royal centre.

Question 2.
Who was Colin Mackenzie? On which things was his initial information on Hampi based?
Answer:
Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and antiquarian. He prepared the first survey of Hampi. His initial information about this city was based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the Shrine of Pampadevi.

Question 3.
Which policy did rulers of Vijayanagara adopt to control Amara-Nayakas? Did this policy succeed?
Answer:
The rulers of Vijayanagara controlled the Amara-Nayakas by adopting the following policy :

  1. The king transferred Amara-Nayakas from one place to another.
  2. The kings got an annual tribute from them. All the Amara-Nayakas had to personally appear in the royal court to offer gifts and express their loyalty for the king.

However, this policy did not succeed. By the 17th century, many Amara-Nayakas had established their own independent states. This hastened the collapse of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Question 4.
What was the importance of Kamala- Puram Tank?
Answer:
Kamalapuram tank was one of the most important tanks of Vijayanagara. Water from this tank was not only used to irrigate nearby fields but its water was also taken to the royal centre through a channel.

Question 5.
Explain any two features that were imbibed in the temple architecture under the rulers of Vijayanagara.
Or
Mention two characteristic features of the temple complexes in Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:

  1. The temples had large establishments. They had gopurams and royal gateways.
  2. The temples also had mandaps, pavilions besides long and pillared corridors. These corridors often ran around the shrines.

Question 6.
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E.? Mention any one reason for their competition with contemporary rulers. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Two brothers namely Harihara and Bukka Raya laid the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336. One reason for their competition with contemporary rulers was to control the fertile river valleys and the resources generated by lucrative overseas trade.

Question 7.
Describe which factor was mainly responsible for the destruction of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Although armies of Sultan were mainly responsible for the destruction of Vijayanagara city, even in spite of the religious differences, relations between Rayas and the Sultans were not always hostile. For example, Krishna Deva Raya supported some of the claimants of power in Sultanates and took pride in obtaining the title of ‘Establisher of the Yavana kingdom.

In the same way, after the death of Krishna Deva Raya, Sultan of Bijapur also intervened to resolve succession disputes in Vijayanagara. Actually, both Vijayanagara kings and Sultanates were been to ensure the stability of each other. As Rama Raya tried to play off one Sultan against the other but it led the Sultans to combine together. They defeated Rama Raya in a decisive battle.

Question 8.
Describe the various efforts made by the scholars to produce the wealth of information of Vijayanagara after Mackenzie’s time. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
To get information about the Vijayanagara, initial efforts were made by Mackenzie. Thereafter, stone-edicts and travel descriptions were added to it. This place came under the control of Archaeological Survey of India and Karnataka Antique Museum in the 20th century. In 1976 C.E., Hampi was accepted as a place of national importance. Thereafter, on the basis of the information and edicts available, a detailed programme was chalked out to explore the remnants of Vijayanagara.

For about 20 years, a dozen scholars of the world gathered every information and conserved it. The preparation of an outline map of the area is part of this project. In the first phase, the whole of the area was divided into 25 square parts. Every part was given a letter from an alphabet to name it. Then they were further divided into different sub-parts. The smaller parts were further divided into a single unit.

All these surveys were made after thorough scrutiny and a lot of hard work. It led to the study of thousands of structures of small devotional places, residence and big temples. The details about them were also penned down. With these works, the roads, paths and bazaars of Vijayanagara can be enlivened. Their position has been determined on the basis of pillars and porches.

Question 9.
Why was Vitthala temple of the Vijayanagara unique? (C.B.S.E. 2015 (O.D.))
Or
Why was the Vitthala temple of Vijayanagara considered unique and interesting? Explain with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (O.D.))
Answer:
In Vijayanagara famous devotional place is Vitthala Temple. The main god of this temple is Vitthala. He is the incarnation of Vishnu worshipped in Maharashtra. The worship of this god was started in Karnataka by the rulers of Vijayanagara. It symbolised the emergence of imperial culture. Like other temples, this temple has many conference halls. It has also a beautiful temple which is in the shape of a chariot.

Another characteristic of the temple premises is that there are chariot streets. They are in straight lines just as in the temple of Gopuram. The streets are paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared paviliAnswer: The traders set up their shops in this paviliAnswer: Some of the unique Gopurams were built by the local Nayaks.

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Source-Based

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

Question 1.
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, Indian corn and a certain amount of barley and beans, moong, pulses and horse-gram” all of which were cheaply and abundantly available. According to Fernao Nuniz, the Vijayanagara markets were “overflowing with an 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) In which city was this bazaar found?
Answer:
This bazaar was in Vijayanagara.

(ii) Where did it exist? According to Paes, what can be purchased from there? Name any six things.
Answer:
It was situated on a broad and beautiful street. It had all kinds of things such as rubies, diamonds, emeralds, pearls, seed-pearls and cloth. One could also find common horses, citrons, limes, oranges and grapes. They had every kind of wood and garden-stuff.

(iii) According to Fernao Nuniz, what were the features of the bazaars of Vijaya¬nagara?
Answer:
According to Fernao Nuniz, the markets of Vijaynagara had an abundance of fruits, grapes, oranges, limes, pomegranates and mangoes. All these things were sold at cheap rates. The meat was also available. It included mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves and quails. It also had all kinds of birds, sparrows, rats, cats and lizards.

Question 2.
A Sprawling City

This is an excerpt from Domingo Paes’s description of Vijayanagara:

The size of this city I do not write here, because it cannot all be seen from any one spot, but I climbed a hill whence I could see a great part of it; I could not see it all because it lies between several ranges of hills. What I saw from thence seemed to be as large as Rome, and very beautiful to the sight; there are many groves of trees within it, in the gardens of the houses, and many conduits of water which flow into the midst of it, and in places there are lakes; and the king has close to his palace a palm-grove and other rich fruit-bearing trees.
(i) From where has this excerpt been taken?
Answer:
This excerpt has been taken from Domingo Paes’s description of Vijayanagara.

(ii) Where did the writer see Vijayanagara? Why could he not see it completely?
Answer:
The author saw the city of Vijayanagara from a hill. He climbed the hill so that he might see most of the city. However, he could not see it completely as it lay between several ranges of hills.

(iii) How did he like that part of the city which he saw?
Answer:
Whatever the author had seen in the city of Vijayanagara, he liked it very much. He found that it was a very big city, as large as Rome. It had many groves of trees. It had also many gardens and lakes. Besides many conduits of water flowed in the city. There were many palms and other fruit-bearing trees near the palace of the king.

(iv) Why did the writer not see the size of the city of Vijayanagara?
Answer:
The writer could not guess the size of the city as it was not visible from any one spot. First of all, it was a very big city, as big as Rome. Secondly, a wide range of hills hindered the full view of the city.

Question 3.
Kings and Traders

Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509-29), the famous ruler of Vijayanagara, composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada. About traders he wrote :

A king should improve the harbours of his country and so encourage its commerce that horses, elephants, precious gems, sandalwood, pearls and other articles are freely imported…

He should arrange that the foreign sailors who land in his country on account of storms, illness and exhaustion are looked after in a suitable manner….. Make the merchants of distant foreign countries who import elephants and good horses are attached to yourself by providing them with the daily audience, presents and allowing decent profits. Then those articles will never go to your enemies.
(i) Explain why a king should improve the harbours of his kingdom?
Answer:
A king should improve the harbours of his kingdom to encourage its commerce, import-export, etc. He should make arrangements for proper care for foreign sailors who land in his country.

(ii) Explain why the foreign sailors, who land in his country for various reasons, should be looked after in a suitable manner.
Answer:
Foreign sailors should be looked after in a suitable manner because they help in maintaining foreign trade. This trade can allow decent profits for the state with which state can become prosperous. It can also help in arranging elephants and good horses for the army.

(iii) Examine the consequences of such an attitude towards the sailors. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
One of the major consequence of such an attitude towards the sailors is that the valuable items like gems, pearls and other articles will never go to your enemies.

Question 4.
Colin Mackenzie

Born in 1754, Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer. In 1815, he was appointed the first Surveyor General of India, a post he held till his death in 1821. He embarked on collecting local histories and surveying k y historic sites in order to better understand India’s past and make the governance of the colony easier. He says that “it struggled long under the miseries of bad management … before the South came under the benign influence of the British government”. By studying Vijayanagara, Mackenzie believed that the East India Company could gain “much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still prevails among the various Tribes of Natives forming the general mass of the population to this day.”
(i) Who was Colin Mackenzie? Give his introduction.
Answer:
Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and antiquarian. He was an employee of the East India Company. He prepared the first survey of the Hampi. His initial information about the city was based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi.

(ii) Mention what Mackenzie did to make the governance of the colony easier.
Answer:
He collected local histories and surveyed historic sites in order to get a better understanding of India’s past. It helped to make the governance of the colony easier.

(iii) According to him, what benefits would the East India Company gain after studying Vijayanagara? Explain in brief. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Answer:
According to him, the East India Company could gain much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still prevails among the various tribes of natives. These natives form the general mass of the population. It can help the East India Company in ruling the country in a better way.

Question 5.
How Tanks were Built?

About a tank constructed in Vijayanagara, Paes wrote:

The king made a tank… at the mouth of two hills so that all the water which comes from either one side or the other collects there, and, besides this, water comes to it from more than three leagues (approximately 15 kilometres) by pipes which run along with the lower parts of the range outside. This water is brought from a lake which itself overflows into a little river. The tank has three large pillars handsomely carved with figures; these connect above with certain pipes by which they get water when they have to irrigate their gardens and rice-fields. In order to make this tank the said king broke down a hill… In the tank I saw so many people at work that there must have been fifteen or twenty thousand men, looking like ants …
(i) Explain briefly where the tank was constructed.
Answer:
The tank was built at the mouth of two hills.

(ii) Explain briefly the sources of water for the tanks.
Answer:
(a) The water could have come from either of the two hills.
(b) The water reservoir was built where the two mountains met. It helped in the accumulation of water from whichever hill it came. Besides, water was brought from a distance through pipes.

(iii) Explain briefly the advantages of constructing tanks. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Water was supplied from the reservoir to Hampinagar. Except this, water was used to irrigate their gardens and rice fields.