Vijayanagara Empire: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)

Explanation

King Krishnadevaraya (1509 to 1529) of Tuluva dynasty allowed the Portuguese to build a fort Bhatkal in 1510. The town was named Bhatakala after the Jain grammarian Bhattakalanka Deva, who hailed from Haduvalli, 16 km away, capital of the Saluvas of Gerusoppa. The Vitthal temples and the Hazara Rama temple were constructed during his reign.

Explanation

Vijayanagar was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty. Four dynasties - Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu - ruled Vijayanagar from A.D. 1336 to 1672. Deva Raya I (c.1406-1422 CE) of the Sangama dynasty was a very capable ruler noted for his military exploits and his support to irrigation works in his kingdom. He constructed a dam across the river Tungabhadra to bring canals into the city to relieve the shortage of water. He also built a dam on the river Haridra for irrigation purposes. Many foreign travelers also visited the Vijayanagar Empire and their accounts are also valuable. Portuguese writer Duarte Barbosa - Krishna Deva Raya. Venetian traveller Nicolo de Conti - Dev Raya II. Persian traveller Abdur Razzak - Dev Raya II. Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes - Krishna Dev Raya.

Explanation

Abdur Razzak, was a the Iranian ambassador who visited the Indian subcontinent during the reign of Deva Raya II, noted that in Vijayanagar, three types of coins were prominently used:

Varaha, Dinara, and Fanam. Among these, the Fanam was the most widely used. The chief gold coin of the Vijayanagar Empire was the varaha or pagoda. Tar was a silver coin Jittal was a copper coin.

Explanation

The accounts of foreign travelers such as Abdur Razzak from Persia, Nicolo de Conte from Italy, Fernao Nuniz, Domingo Paes and Duarte Barbosa from Portugal, provide us with a valuable historical lens of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Fernao Nuniz, a Portuguese traveler who visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya, noted that women in the empire held prominent roles. He observed that they were trained in various skills, including wrestling, swordsmanship, soothsaying, astrology, and accounting. These women were actively involved in the kingdom’s political, social, and cultural life. In addition to fine arts like music, some also received education in literature.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Under the rule of Krishna Deva Raya (ruler of Vijayanagar empire), the taxation system was quite well-organized and efficient. The tax rate was fixed between one-third and one-sixth depending on the quality of the land. This method ensured that the tax burden was more equitable, as fertile land produced higher yields and therefore could bear a higher tax rate.

Statement 2 is correct: Commercial taxes consisting of levies, duties and customs on manufactured articles of trade were also levied. Private owners of workshops also paid an industry tax. In addition to the land tax, there were taxes levied on shopkeepers, farm workers, farm servants, laborers, posters, shoemakers, musicians, etc. Grazing and house taxes were also imposed.

Explanation

Harihara I, along with his brother Bukka Raya I, laid the foundation for the city of Vijayanagara in 1336 on the south bank of the river Tungabhadra, a tributary to the river Krishna. Harihara I believed that the land south of the river Krishna belonged to the deity Virupaksha (a form of Lord Shiva). He undertook the responsibility of ruling the kingdom on behalf of this deity, considering himself as an agent of the deity. This reflects the deep religious and cultural connection to the land and the empire’s association with divine authority. The rulers of Vijayanagara were often referred to as the "servants of Virupaksha", showcasing their role as divine agents.

Explanation

The Angkor Vat Temple, located in modern-day Cambodia, was built under the reign of King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-c. 1150) of the Khmer empire. Originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it later became a major Buddhist center. The temple complex is a prime example of Khmer architecture and is one of the largest religious monuments in the world. Fig: Angkor Vat Temple

Explanation

Raja Wodeyar established the Wodeyar dynasty in Mysore, around the late 14th century. During this period, Venkata II (1586 to 1614) was one of the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire (1336 A.D to 1646 A.D.), which, despite being in decline, continued to wield influence over southern India.

Explanation

The Vijayanagara Empire experienced notable dynastic transitions, beginning with the founding Sangama dynasty, which was replaced by the Saluva dynasty due to internal instability. This was followed by the rise of the Tuluva dynasty. All the Statements 1, 2, 3 and 4 are correct:

The Vijayanagar Empire witnessed significant dynastic changes, beginning with Narasimha Saluva, who ended the Sangama dynasty and established the Saluva dynasty. Subsequently, Vira Narasimha seized throne by deposing the last Saluva ruler, and his younger brother, Krishnadeva Raya succeeded him and became one of the greatest rulers of the empire. Following his death, Krishnadeva Raya was succeeded by his half-brother, Achyuta Raya.

Explanation

The Saluva Dynasty is credited with stabilizing the Vijayanagara Empire after the decline of the Sangama Dynasty, restoring order and expanding its territories. Under Saluva Narasimha, the empire strengthened its military and administrative structures, ensuring its resilience. The dynasty also laid the groundwork for the prosperity that flourished under the subsequent Tuluva Dynasty. Assertion (A) is correct: Saluva Narasimha, a Vijayanagara Empire ruler in the late 15th century, is credited with ending the declining Sangama dynasty and founding the Saluva dynasty in 1485 CE. Reason (R) is correct: This shift was necessitated by internal rebellion and external threats from the Bahmani Sultanate and the Gajapati rulers of Odisha. His primary motive was to restore stability and prevent further disintegration of the empire. The assertion about his actions and the reason attributing these to his concern for the kingdom’s survival are both accurate, and R explains A effectively. Hence, R is the correct explanation of A.