Vijayanagar kingdom By: Varun KabraSubject: History

Grade: 7D

Introduction

• The Vijayanagar Empire (also called Karnata Empire), was an empire based in South India, in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya of Sangama Dynasty.

Harihara I and Bukka

Location of the Vijayanagar kingdom

• Vijayanagar was situated in south India at the Deccan region.

• Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar is in the Bellary District of northern Karnataka.

Map of Vijayanagar

Vijayanagar’s rulers

• There were a total of 16 rulers from four dynasties who ruled the kingdom for 230 years (1336-1565 CE). The dynasties were:– The Sangama dynasty– The Saluva dynasty– The Taluva dynasty– The Arvinda dynasty

• The sixteen rulers are shown in the next few slides

The Sangama dynasty

Harihara I (1336-1356 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Bukka Raya I (1356-1377 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Harihara Raya II (1377-1404 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Virupaksha Raya (1404-1405CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Bukka Raya II (1405-1406 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Deva Raya I (1406-1422 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Ramachandra Raya (1422 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya (1422-1424 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Deva Raya II (1424-1446 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Mallikarjuna Raya (1446-1465 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Virupaksha Raya II (1465-1485 CE)

The Sangama dynasty

Praudha Raya (1485 CE)

The Saluva dynasty

Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya (1485-1491 CE)

The Saluva dynasty

Thimma Bhupala (1491 CE)

The Saluva dynasty

Narasimha Raya II (1491-1505 CE)

The Taluva dynasty

Tuluva Narasa Nayaka (1491-1503 CE)

The Taluva dynasty

Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529 CE)

The Taluva dynasty

Achyuta Raya (1529-1542 CE)

The Taluva dynasty

Sadashiva Raya (1542-1570)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Aliya Rama Raya (1542-1565 CE)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Tirumala Deva Raya (1565-1572 CE)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Sriranga I (1572-1586 CE)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Venkata II (1586-1614 CE)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Sriranga II (1614-1614 CE)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Ramadeva (1617-1632 CE)

The Aravidu Dynasty

Venkata III (1632-1642 CE)

Administration

• The Vijayanagar rulers were efficient administrators which revolved around the assessment and the collection of land revenue

• The king was the supreme authority in civil, military, and judicial matters

• Ruled with the assistance of council of ministers, who were helped by a number of officials

Administration

• Portuguese traveller, Domingo Paes, was struck by the magnificence of the court which was adorned by a number of distinguished scholars, artists, and foreign ministers

Administration

• For administrative efficiency, the empire(country) was divided into a number of Kottams.

• Each Kottam was divided into a number of Nadus.

• Each Nadu was divided into a number of villages

Administration(rulers of each division)

• Empire-King• Kottam-Governor (usually from the ruling

family)• Nadu-Officials• Village-Village Headman

Administration

Empire

Kottams

NadusVillages

Villages

NadusVillages

Villages

NadusVillages

Villages

NadusVillages

Villages

Kottams

NadusVillages

Villages

NadusVillages

Villages

NadusVillages

Villages

NadusVillages

Villages

Economy

• Admission was geared towards a more efficient collection and generation of revenues

• Land revenue were the main sources of state income

• Farmers paid between 1/3 to 1/6 of total produce as taxes

• Rulers constructed dams for irrigation

Economy

• Other sources of revenue were – Customs duty– Grazing tax– Import and export duties

• Most of the money was spent on welfare schemes and in the maintenance of

Economy

• Most of the money was spent on welfare schemes and in the maintenance of – A large army consisting of

» Infantry» Cavalry» Elephants

• Good quality horses were most important items imported by the king

Trade

• They had a flourishing trade, first with the Portuguese and later with the British and Dutch

• They had brisk trade with Persia, Arabia, Burma, China, Sri lanka

• They had 300 seaports, the most important being Calicut in Malabar.

Exported items

• They exported – Cotton cloth– Rice– Iron– Sandalwood– Sugar– Spices

Cotton Cloth

Exported Items

Rice

Exported Items

Iron

Exported Items

Sandalwood

Exported Items

Sugar

Exported Items

Spices

Exported Items

Imported items

• They imported – Ivory– Good quality horses– Silk

Ivory

Imported Items

Good quality horses

Imported Items

Silk

Imported Items

Art and Architecture

• Vijayanagar rulers were great builders and their period saw the revival of regional art, architecture and literature

• They built many temples like– Virupaksha Narayana– Parshwanatha Basadi– Hazara Rama Temple– Vithalaswami Temple

Temples

• The temples were adorned with beautiful sculptures

• Repaired temples built by Cholas

Domingo Peas' view

• Vijayanagar was surrounded by 7 walls covering an area of 96 kms.

• Inside the city there were beautiful gardens, lakes, palaces, temples, and other buildings

• People were fond of jewellery • Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls were

sold in the bazaar.

Diamond

Jewellery sold

Ruby

Jewellery sold

Emerald

Jewellery sold

Pearls

Jewellery sold

Literature

• The Vijayanagar rulers were great patrons of learned men

• Telugu, Kannada, and Sanskrit languages flourished

• Works on religion, law, and philosophy were written

Literature(a few works)

1. ‘Amuktamalyada’-long poem in telugu explaining how the kings rule, by Krishnadeva Raya

Krishnadeva Raya

• He was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagar kingdom.

• Ruled from 1509-1530 CE• From Taluva dynasty

His Feats

• Attacked Bahmani kingdom which broke it into five parts

• Suppressed the feudatory chiefs • Conquered the Raichar Doab• Defeated the kings of Bijapur & Orissa• Vanquished the king of Udayagiri

His Trading

• Traded with the Portuguese• Established friendly relationships with them• Allowed them to settle in the West Coast• Permitted them to build a fort

Literature

• Krishnadeva Raya’s court had eight great Telugu scholars or the ‘Asthadiggaja’

• There names are given in the next few slides

Allasani Peddana

Asthadiggaja

Nandi Thimmana

Asthadiggaja

Madayyagari Mallana

Asthadiggaja

Dhurjati

Asthadiggaja

Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu

Asthadiggaja

Pingali Surana

Asthadiggaja

Ramarajabhushanudu

Asthadiggaja

Tenali Ramakrishnudu

Asthadiggaja

Social & Religious Customs

• They followed Hinduism with all its Vedic customs

• Governed by religious norms• Gave a lot of importance to the Brahmins• Caste system was followed• Tolerant to other religions

Social & Religious Customs

• Women were respected• They were given high positions in political life• Their freedom was limited• Sati was practiced• Polygamy was followed• Child marriage was allowed• Sacrifices were made routinely