Category 4 · Medieval History
Vijayanagara Empire
9 micro topics in Medieval History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Sources for Vijayanagara History (Foreign Travellers' Accounts – Nicolo Conti, Domingo Paes, Abdur Razzaq); Political History of the Vijayanagara Empire (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu Dynasties); and 7 more.
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4.1
Sources for Vijayanagara History (Foreign Travellers' Accounts – Nicolo Conti, Domingo Paes, Abdur Razzaq)
The history of Vijayanagara rests on inscriptions and archaeology at Hampi, literature in Telugu and Sanskrit including works by Krishna Deva Raya, Persian chronicles such as Ferishta's, and the accounts of foreign visitors: Nicolo Conti (1420),…
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4.2
Political History of the Vijayanagara Empire (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu Dynasties)
Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama family, who built a state against the Delhi Sultanate and the sultan of Madurai. Four dynasties ruled in turn: the Sangamas, the Saluvas, the…
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4.3
Krishnadevaraya and the Tuluva Dynasty
Krishna Deva Raya (1509 to 1530) of the Tuluva dynasty was the greatest Vijayanagara ruler. He defeated Orissa and Bijapur, centralised the Tungabhadra doab, patronised Telugu, Kannada and Tamil poets including the Ashtadiggajas, wrote the Telugu…
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4.4
Vijayanagara Administration (Nayankara System)
Vijayanagara had a high concept of kingship and a council of ministers drawn from the great nobles. The empire was divided into rajyas or mandalams, nadus, sthalas and gramas. The nayankara system gave military chiefs, called…
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4.5
Social and Cultural Life Under the Vijayanagara Empire
Society in Vijayanagara was thickly populated and unequal: rich nobles and merchants lived in splendid cities, while villagers lived modestly in thatched houses. The rulers protected Hinduism and built temples, schools and maths, patronised Telugu, Kannada,…
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4.6
Economic Condition of the Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara economy rested on agriculture, irrigation works such as dams and tanks, and a large trade in horses, spices and textiles through the west coast ports. Land tax varied by crop and irrigation, other taxes…
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4.7
Conflicts of Vijayanagara with the Bahmani Kingdom
Vijayanagara and the Bahmani kingdom fought for over two centuries over the Tungabhadra doab, the Krishna-Godavari delta and the Konkan with Goa. The wars were cruel, with massacres and enslavement, and a treaty of 1367 agreed…
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4.8
Battle of Talikota (1565) and the Decline of Vijayanagara
In 1565 the combined armies of Bijapur, Golconda and Ahmadnagar crushed Vijayanagara at Bannihatti near Talikota. Rama Raja was captured and executed, the capital was looted and left in ruins, and the great age of Vijayanagara…
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4.9
Hampi as the Capital – Architecture and Art of the Vijayanagara Empire
Hampi, on the Tungabhadra, was the Vijayanagara capital from 1336 to 1565 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site of over 1,600 remains. Its temples, such as the Virupaksha, the Vittala with its stone chariot…
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Frequently asked questions
Which topics are in Vijayanagara Empire?
Vijayanagara Empire has 9 micro topics in Medieval History: Sources for Vijayanagara History (Foreign Travellers' Accounts – Nicolo Conti, Domingo Paes, Abdur Razzaq); Political History of the Vijayanagara Empire (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu Dynasties); Krishnadevaraya and the Tuluva Dynasty; Vijayanagara Administration (Nayankara System); Social and Cultural Life Under the Vijayanagara Empire; Economic Condition of the Vijayanagara Empire; Conflicts of Vijayanagara with the Bahmani Kingdom; Battle of Talikota (1565) and the Decline of Vijayanagara; Hampi as the Capital – Architecture and Art of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Is Vijayanagara Empire important for UPSC Prelims?
Vijayanagara Empire is a part of the UPSC Prelims Medieval History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 9 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.