An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Class 12 NCERT Solutions, PYQs & Notes

Ans: Vijayanagara was located in one of the most arid (dry) zones of the peninsula. To meet its water requirements, they built an elaborate system:
1. Tungabhadra River: The city's natural basin was formed by the Tungabhadra river. Embankments were built along the river and its streams to create reservoirs of varying sizes.
2. Kamalapuram Tank: This was one of the most prominent waterworks. Water from this tank was used not only to irrigate fields but was also channeled through an aqueduct to the 'royal centre'.
3. Hiriya Canal: One of the most prominent waterworks, built by kings of the Sangama dynasty, it drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra and irrigated the cultivated valley that separated the "sacred centre" from the "urban core."

Ans: Abdur Razzaq, a Persian ambassador, noted that the first line of fortification in Vijayanagara enclosed not just the city, but also agricultural tracts and forests.
Advantages:
1. During medieval sieges, enemies tried to starve the defenders by cutting off supply lines. Having agricultural land inside the fort ensured a continuous supply of food for months or even years during a siege.
2. It saved the crops from being destroyed or looted by the invading army.
Disadvantages:
1. It was extremely expensive to build such massive and extensive walls enclosing huge tracts of fields.
2. A larger perimeter is harder to defend, requiring a massive standing army to patrol the long walls.

Ans: The Mahanavami Dibba was a massive platform in the royal centre. The rituals associated with it during the ten-day Hindu festival (Dussehra/Navaratri/Durga Puja) were highly significant:
1. Display of Power: The Vijayanagara kings used this occasion to display their prestige, power, and suzerainty.
2. Rituals: Ceremonies included the worship of the image, worship of the state horse, and sacrifices of buffaloes and other animals.
3. Tribute and Loyalty: The Nayakas (military commanders) and subordinate kings brought rich gifts and tributes to the king, reaffirming their loyalty.
4. Spectacle: Dances, wrestling matches, and processions of caparisoned horses, elephants, and chariots impressed both subjects and foreign visitors.

Ans: The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara and Bukka, belonging to the Sangama dynasty.

Ans: In popular traditions, the ruling lineages of Orissa were called Gajapatis (lords of elephants), the Deccan Sultans were termed Ashvapatis (lords of horses), and the Rayas of Vijayanagara were called Narapatis (lords of men).

Ans: Kudirai Chettis (horse merchants) were local communities of merchants in Vijayanagara who participated in the lucrative trade of importing high-quality horses from Arabia and Central Asia, which was crucial for the empire's cavalry.

Ans: The empire was ruled by four dynasties: 1. Sangama dynasty (the founders), 2. Saluva dynasty, 3. Tuluva dynasty (to which Krishnadevaraya belonged), and 4. Aravidu dynasty.

Ans: Amuktamalyada is a famous work on statecraft written in Telugu by Krishnadevaraya. It advises kings on how to treat merchants well, improve ports, and ensure foreign traders settle in the kingdom to boost prosperity.

Ans: The name Hampi is derived from the local mother goddess, Pampadevi. According to local tradition, Pampadevi did penance in these hills to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom.

Ans: Abdur Razzaq was an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut in the 15th century. He visited Vijayanagara and was greatly impressed by its massive fortifications, explicitly noting that there were seven lines of forts that enclosed agricultural fields as well.

Ans: Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveler, visited the city in the 16th century. He compared Vijayanagara to Rome in size and described it as being as large as Rome, full of beautiful gardens, groves, lakes, and water channels.

Ans: The Lotus Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the royal centre, named so by British travelers in the 19th century. Historians are not sure of its exact use, but Mackenzie suggested it might have been a council chamber where the king met his advisers.

Ans: The Hazara Rama temple was a royal temple probably meant to be used only by the king and his family. While the images in the central shrine are missing, the inner walls feature beautifully sculpted panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

Ans: The Vitthala Temple is dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Lord Vishnu generally worshipped in Maharashtra. Its most striking feature is a beautifully carved shrine designed in the shape of a massive stone chariot.

Ans: The Urban Core was the area where ordinary people lived. Archaeologists have found Chinese porcelain here, suggesting it was occupied by rich traders. The area had numerous shrines, small temples, and well water systems, showing a diverse population.

Ans: It is a blend of Indian and Islamic architectural styles. In Hampi, structures like the Elephant Stables and the arches over the gateways leading into the fortified settlement show clear influences of Indo-Islamic architecture (domes and arches).

Ans: The Nayakas were powerful military chiefs who controlled forts and armed supporters. When the central power of the Rayas weakened after Krishnadevaraya, the ambitious Nayakas rebelled to assert their independence, eventually contributing to the empire's collapse.

Ans: Fernao Nuniz was a Portuguese traveler and horse trader who spent several years in Vijayanagara. He wrote a detailed chronicle covering the reigns of Krishnadevaraya and his successor, providing insights into the empire's politics and society.