#284: Vijaynagar NCERT Summary+PYQs
Get all in one pla
Find PYQs from last 16 years of Prelims 2009-2024 with PDF Notes & Video Explanations here
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I met Krishna Deva Raya last evening
He expressed surprise on #UPSC love for his empire😮
He further asked to summarize NCERT notes of Vijaynagara empire in one post🛕
I woke up from the dream & here's the post w/ PYQs 🧵
1. Empire & Dynasties
- Empire
• Founded by Harihara & Bukka in 1336
• Contemporaries of Deccan Sultans & Odisha Gajapatis
• Spoke Kannada/Telugu + Hampi is near shrines of Pampadevi & Virupaksha
• Hampi discovered by Colonel Colin Mackenzie
- Dynasties
a) Sangama Dynasty (1336-1486)
• only Shaivites (all other Vaishnavites)
• Harihara & Bukka were Sangamas
b) Saluva Dynasty (1486-1506)
• Narasimha Raya 2 was the greatest ruler
c) Tuluva Dynasty (1506-1565)
• Focused on expansion acquiring land b/w Tungabhadra & Krishna
• Defeated rulers of Orissa & Sultans of Bijapur
• KD Raya established Yavana kingdom
d) Aravidu Dynasty (1570-1647)
• Came into being post battle of Talikota
• Was limited to few regions & a weak setup
2. Polity, Administration & Economy
a) Amara Nayaka System
• Est by Vijayanagar Kingdom
• Inspired by Iqta system of sultanate
• Mil Commanders (Nayaks) were given territories to govern & collect taxes
b) Water & Dams
• Tungabhadra basin surrounded the empire
• Kamalapuram tank built to help irrigation
• Hiriya Canal separated the sacred centre from Urban core
c) Fortifications & Roads
• Fortified agri tracts & enclosed forts
• Made no use of mortar or cementing agents
• Elephant stables seen at Lotus Mahal
• Mahanavami Dibba (House of victory) located at highest point of the city
3. Travelers during Vijayanagara Era
a) Nicolo de Conti
• During rule of Deve Raya I
• Points at Polygamy & Sati in the society
• Italian merchant who terms Telugu as Italian of east
b) Abdul Razzaq
• During rule of Deva Raya II
• A Persian-Timurid scholar
• Writes about India in his book Matla-us-sadain
c) Domingo Paes
• During rule of Krishna Deva Raya
• A Portuguese merchant; compared Hampi w/ Rome
•"Market of precious stones & advance irrigation"
Other travelers: Afanasii Nikitin, Nuniz, Barbosa
4. Art, Architecture & Culture
• Features: Raya gopurams, royal gateways, dwarfed towers on central shrines
• Virupaksha Mandir
Earliest temple dated to 9-10th century whose eastern Gopuram was built by Krishna Deva Raya
• Vittala Mandir
Temple of Lord Vittala, form of Vishnu
It hosts stone chariot with multiple hand carvings on the walls of the temple
• Hazara Rama Temple
A temple with Ramayana scenes sculpted on the walls & probably a temple meant for King & his family
5. Sources
a) Literary
Multiple resources; a few of them are listed here
• Rayavachakam (written by Vishvanatha Sthanapati)
• Kannada & Telugu literature:
Manucharitam & Saluvabhyudayam
b) Inscriptions
• Copper Plate inscriptions from KDR's time
• Srirangam copper plates of Devaraya II time; offers genealogy of rulers
• Bitragunta inscription gives out family history of Sangama dynasty
• Most 'visible' resource are the ruins of Vijaynagar speaking of the cultural contributions of the empire
Find PYQs from last 16 years of Prelims 2009-2024 with PDF Notes & Video Explanations here