Mrs.

Ashima Sadhu
M.A. Hons. Geography, M.A History, B.Ed (NCERT) Lecturer
St. Xavier Senior Secondary School, Bathinda

HISTORY: XII, An Imperial Capita – Vijayanagara Chapter – 7

Very Short Answer – Type Questions

Q.1 Which historical sources helped the scholars in rediscovering the imperial capital.
Vijayanagara?
Ans. (1) The credit for rediscovering Vijayanagar (or Hampi as it is called by the residents of Krishna
- Tungabhadra doab) goes to Colonel Colin Hackenzie, an employee in the East India
company.
(2) Many historical source helped him, such as (i) Memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple
and the shrine of Pampadevi.
(3) Monuments
(4) Inscriptions at temples at Hampi
(5) Accounts of the foreign travellers and
(6) Literature written in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit.

Q.2. Who was Colin Mackenzie ? What was his contribution?

Ans. (1) Born in 1754 Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer.
In 1815 he was appointed the fires Surveyor. General of India, a post he held till his death in
1821.
(2) He embarked on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order to better
understand India’s past and make governance of the colony easier.
(3) He prepared the first survey map Hampi, much of the initial information he received was
based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi.

Q.3. Mention two reasons for having control on the northern frontiers of Vijayanagara, by the
Sutans of Deccan and the Gajpati rulers of Orissa.
Ans. (i) The first reason of conflict was to control the fertilie river valleys which were deemed
necessary for royal pride and prosperity of the state and its people.
(ii) The second cause of conflict was the lucrative trade with foreign countries which brought
much wealth by the export of overseas spices, textiles and precious stones. Moreover, trade
was regarded as a status symbol by the conflicting power.

Q.4. Krishnadeva Raya’s ruler was characterized by expansion and consolidation. Justify this
statement.
Or
Is it justified to call Krishnadeva Raya as the greatest king of Vijayanagara kingdom? Give
reasons for your answer.
Ans. (1) The most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty was Krishnadeva who is regard as the greatest
ruler of this dynasty. He was a brave general and bold warrior.
(2) He reorganized his administration and restored peace by suppressing the rebels. He also
invaded Mysore and annexed it. He also recaptured those parts of Vijayanagara which the
rulers of Orissa had earlier snatched away from the earlier Kings of Vijayanagara.
(3) Though the Sultans of Bidar and Golconda came to help the King Pratap Rudra of Orissa,
Krishnadeva defeated the combines forces of all these rulers. It made the Vijayanagara
kingdom the most famous.
(4) Krishnadeva turned his attention to the doab lying between the rivers Krishna and
Tungbhadra which he recaptured from the Bahmani Sultans. His last success was against
the Sultan of Bijapur who had tried in vain to capture again the Doab.

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 (5) Although the kingdom remained in constant state of military preparedness, it flourished
under conditions of unparalleled peace and prosperity.
(6) Krishnadeva Raya is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive
gopurams to many important south Indian temples. He also founded a suburban township
near Vijayanagara called Nagalapuram after his mother. Some of the most detailed
descriptions of Vijayanagara come from his time or just after.

Q. 5. “Strain began to show within the imperial structure following Krishnadeva Raya’s death in
1529”. Critically examine this statement.
Ans. (1) Strain began to show within the imperial structure following Krishnadeva Raya’s death in
1529. His successors were troubled by rebellious nayakas or military chiefs. By 1542 control
at the centre had shifted to another ruing lineage, that of the Aravidua, which remained in
power till the end of the seventeenth century.
(2) During this period, the military ambitions of the rulers of Vijayanagara as well as those of the
Deccan Sultanates resulted in shifting alignments.
(3) Eventually this led to an alliance of the Sultanates against Vijayanagara. In 1565 Rama
Raya, the chief minister of Vijayanagara, led the army into battle at Rakshasi – Tangadi
(also known as Talikota), where his forces were routed by the combned armies of Bijapur,
Ahmadnagar and Golconda.
(4) The victorious armies sacked the city of Vijayanagara. The city was totally abandoned within
a few years. Now the focus of the empire shifted to the east where the Aravidu dynasty
ruled from Penukonda and latter from Chandragiri (near Tirupati).

Q.6. “The Amara – nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire”.
Justify the Statement.
Ans. (1) Amara –nayaka were military chiefs under the Rayas of Vijayanagara empire.It is likely
that many features of thissystem were derived from the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.
(2) The amara – nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the
raya. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants. Craftspersons and traders in the
area.
(3) They retained part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated
contingents provided the Vijayanagar kings with an effective fighting force with which they
brought the entire southern peninsula under their control.
(4) Some of the revenue was also used for the maintenance of temples and irrigation works.
(5) The amara- nayakas sent tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal
court with gifts to express their loyalty. Kings occeasionally asserted their control over them
by transferring them from one place to another.
(6) During the course of the seventeenth century, many of these nayakas established
independent kingdoms. This hastened the collapse of the central imperial structure.

Q.7. Mention any two features about the location of the city of Vijayanagara.
Ans. The location of the city of Vijayanagara was selected very carefully.
(i) The natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra was selected so that water could be
made available to the residents for drinking and for growing fruit bearing trees.
(ii) The surrounding granite hills that seem to form girdle around the city kept the city safe from
foreign attacks.

Q.8. Which accounts of the foreign travellers proved very useful in getting knowledge about the
Vijayanagara city?
Ans. (i) The Italian trader Nicolo – de – Conti.
(ii) The Persian ambassador Abdur Razzaq.
(iii) The Russina traveller Afanasii Nikitin.
(iv) Then Protuguese citizens like Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz.

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Q.9. How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?
Ans. (1) The most striking feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by
the river Tungabhadra which flows in a north – easterly direction.
(2) A number of streams flow down to the river from these rocky outcrops.
(3) In almost all cases embankments were built along these streams to create reservoirs of
varying sizes.
(4) As this is one of the most arid zones of the peninsula elaborate arrangements had to be
made to store rainwater and conduct it to the city.
(5) The most important such tank was built in the early years of the fifteenth century and is now
called kamalapuram tank. Water from this tank not only irrigate field nearby but was also
conducted through a channel to the “royal centre”.
(6) One of the most prominent waterworks to be seen among the ruins is the Hiriya canal. This
canal drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra and irrigated the cultivated valley that
separated the “sacred centre” from the “urban core”. This was apparently built by kings of
the Sangama dynasty”.

Q.10. What do you think were the advantage and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land
within the fortified area of the city?
Ans. Most significant about this fortification is that it enclosed agricultural tracts. Abdur Razzaq noted
that “between the first, second and the third walls there are cultivated fields, gardens and houses.
Advantages of this system:
(1) At that time due to fortification of agricultural land, any foreign attack the common men could
be saved from starvation. The objective of the enemy was always to starve the defenders
into submission. If the agricultural fields were in the fortified area such starvation were
avoided.
(2) Some scholars are of the view that if the agricultural lands were within the fortified area, the
peasants could carry on their agricultural activities even during the siege days and thus they
saved both the people and their ruler from starvation and insult of a defeat.
Disadvantages of this system:
Some people find disadvantages in this system of bringing the agricultural fields within the
fortification walls. According to them much expenditure was incurred in fortification of the field which
could otherwise have been spent for the general welfare of the people
Conclusion:
According to the scholars people greatly accepted this system because they knew that inspite of
expensive fortification they would not be starved. In this way, they could save their lives and remain
patient and loyal.

Q.11. What was Barabosas description abut houses of ordinary people in Vijaynagara empire.
Ans. (1) Sixteenth – centgury Protuguese traveller Barbosa described the houses of ordinary people.
Which have not survived.
(2) The north – eastern corner of the urban core may have been occupied by rich traders. This
was also the Muslim residential quarter.
(3) Tombs and mosques located here have distinctive functions, yet their architecture resembles
that of the mandapas found in the temples of Hampi.
(4) The other houses of the people are thatched, but nonetheless well built and arranged
according to occupations, in long streets with many open places.

Q.12. Mention the rituals associated with the Mahanavami Dabba situated in the Royal centre of
Vijayanagar.
Ans. Located on one of the highest points in the city , the “mahanavami dibba is a massive platform
rising from a base of about 11,000 sq. ft to a height of 40- ft. There is evidence that it supported a
wooden structure. The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings.
(1) Rituals associated with the structure probably coincided with Mahanavami (literally, the great
ninth day) of the ten – day Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October,

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 known variously as Dusehra (northern India), Durga Puja (in Bengal) and Navaratri or
Mahanavami (in peninsular India). The Vijaynagara kings displayed their prestige, power and
suzerainty on this occasion.
(2) The ceremonies performed on the occasion included worship of the image, worship of the state
horse, and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
(3) Dances wrestling matches, and processions of caparisoned horses, elephants and chariots and
soldiers, as well as ritual presentations before the king and his guests by the chief nayakas and
subordinate kings marked the occasion.
(4) These ceremonies were imbued with deep symbolic meanings. On the last day of the festival
the king inspected his army and the armies of the nayakas in a grand ceremony in an open field.
ON this occasion the nayakas brought rich gifts for the kings as well as the stipulated tribute.

Q.13. Write down the importance of Lotus Mahal in Royal centre at Vijayanagara?
Ans. (1) Lotus Mahal built in the Royal Centre is one of the most beautiful buildings of Vijayanagara.
Impressed by the beauty of this building, the English travelers who came to India in the 19 th
century had given this name of ‘Lotus Mahal’ to this building.
(2) Historians are not quite sure for what purpose this building was used for. But most of them
believed that it was a Council Chamber, where the king used to meet his advisor for
discussion and sharing of Views.

Q.14. Mention two features of the Hazara Rama Temple in the Royal Centre.
Ans. (i) One of the most spectacular temples in Vijayanagara was the Hazara Rama temple
because it was probably used by the king and his family.
(ii) It walls have many sculptured panels which depict many scenes from the Ramayana.

Q.15. Mention any two purposes of the temple complexes in the Vijayanagara.
Ans. The temple complexes were used for a variety of purposes.
(1) Temple developed as significant religious, social, cultural and economic centre.
(2) Some complexes were used to place the images of the gods, so that one could witness
special programmes of dances, drama and music.
(3) Other were used to celebrate the marriage of deities.
(4) Temples also functioned as centres of learning.

Q.16. How were the halls in Verupaksha Temple used or Write shot note on Verupaksha Temple.
Ans. (1) In Vijayanagara empire the virupaksha temple was built over centuries. While inscriptions
suggest that the earliest shrine date to the ninth – tenth centuries. It was substantially
enlarged with the establishment of the vijayanagar empire.
(2) The hall in front of the main shrine was built by Krishnadeva Raya to mark his accession.
This was decorated with delicately carved pillars. He is also credited with the construction of
the eastern gopuram. These additions meant that the central shrine came to occupy a
relatively small part of the complex.
(3) The halls in the temple were used for a variety of purposes. Some were spaces in which the
images of gods were placed to witness special programmes of music, dance, drama, etc.
(4) Others were used to celebrate the marriages of deities, and yet others were meant for the
deities to swing in. special images, distinct from those kept in the small central shrine were
used on these occasions.

Q.17. What was the significance of Vitthala Temple?

Ans. (1) In the Vitthalate temple, the principal deity was Vitthala, a from of Vishnu generally
worshipped in Maharashtra.
(2) The introduction of the worship of the deity in Karnataka is another indication of the ways in
which the rulers of Vijayanagara drew on different traditions to create an imperial culture.
(3) This temple too has several halls and a unique shrine designed as a chariot.
(4) A characteristic feature of the temple complexes is the chariot streets that extended from the
temple gopuram in a straight line.
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 (5) These streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions in which
merchants set up their shops.

Q.18. Discuss the picture of urban centres that emerges from Bernier’s account.
Ans. Bernier’s account gives the following picture of urban centres.
(i) Large population living in towns. During the 17th century about 15 per cent of the
population lived in towns. This was an average, higher than the proportion of urban
population in Western Europe in the same period.
(ii) Mughal cities as ‘Camp Towns’ Bernier described the Mughal cities as ‘Camp Towns’ by
which he meant towns that owed their existence and depended for their survival on the
imperial camp. He believed that these cam into existence when the imperial court moved in
an rapidly declined when it moved out.
(iii) Town as centres of manufacturing, pilgrimage. Bernier was drawing an over – simplified
picture. There were all kinds of towns manufacturing towns, trading towns, port towns,
sacred centres, pilgrimage towns etc. Their existence is an index of the prosperity of
merchant communities and professional classes.
(iv) Caste cum occupational bodies of merchants Merchants often had strong community
and were organized into their own caste – cum – occupational bodies. In Western India,
these groups were called mahajans and their chief, the sheth. In urban centres such as
Ahmedabad, the mahajans were collectively represented by the chief of the merchant
community who was called the nagarsheth.

Q.19. Will it be correct to say that Al – Biruni’s conception of caste India more rigid than it was in
real life? Give an example to justify your answer.
Ans. Al – Biruni’s description of caste system was based on his study of normative Sanskrit texts. These
texts give a Brahamanical point of view and the rules pertaining to social conduct laid down in these
texts are quite rigid. But in real life the system was not as rigid as the accounts of Al – Biruni shows.
For example, the categories defined as antyaja (i.e. born outside the system) were often expected
to provide inexpensive labour to both peasant and zamindars. It means that while they were often
subjected to social oppression, they were included within economic networks and as such they were
not entirely excluded from the society.

Q.20. Examine the significance of Al – Biruni’s book ‘Kitab – ul – Hind’ in the study of Indian
history.
Ans. Kitab – ul – Hind
Al Biruni’s Kitab – ul – Hind, written in Arabic, is simple and lucid. It is voluminous text, divided into
80 chapters on various subject like religion and philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners
and customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws and metrology.
Generally Al – Biruni adopted a distinctive structure in each chapter. The chapter began with a
question, followed this up with a description based on Sanskritic traditions and concluded with a
comparison with other cultures. Some present day scholars have argued that this almost geometric
structure, with precision and predictability, followed from his mathematical origination.
Political and Economic Conditions of India.
As per the descriptions in the ‘Kitab – ul – Hind’, we came to know that the country was divided into
many small parts at that time. More famous among them were Kannauj, Kashmir, Sind, Malwa,
Gujarat and Bengal.
In the South, there were many small kingdom is India. All these kingdoms were independent,
jealous of each othe rand were constantly engaged in quarrels against one another.
About the Indian judicial system, he wrote that criminal law was mild in India and the Brahmins were
exempted from death punishment. The limbs of serious offenders were amputated. The judges
dispensed justice on the basis of the evidence of the witnesses.
Religious Conditions of that Time
Kitab – ul – Hind accounted us that at that time idol worship was prevalent in the country and there
was lots of wealth in the temples. Common people believed in many Gods bu the scholars and

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 educated people believed in the unity of God. Al – Biruni writes that the Hindus believed in only one
God which is permanent, all powerful and all pervading.
Social Conditions as per Al – Biruni
Kitab – ul – Hind mentions that contemporary Indian society was ridden with the rigidity of caste
system. The country was suffering from many evil practices like chil marriage, prohibition of widow
remarriage, sati and jauhar.
There was no feeling of unity and equality in Indian society. In his Tehkikat –I – Hind, he mentioned
about the narrow outlook of Indians saying that Hindus were of the belief that there was no country
like India, no kin like theirs and no science like theirs.
The caste system had reached its peak during the time of Mahmud’s invasions. Al – Biruni mentions
that in the society only Brahmins had the right to attain salvation.
Importance of Indian Philosophy
Indian philosophy is highly praised in the Kitab – ul – Hind. Al Biruni was specially impressed by the
Upanishads and the spiritual philosophy propounded in the Bhagwad Gita. According to him, the
Indians know very little about the chronology of historical events and if pressurized too much, they
start narrating stories.

Q.21. How did the accounts of foreign travellers helps in reconstructing the history of India from
10th to 17th century.
Ans. Most of the foreign travellers came to India from different countries with diverse social environment.
Native writer s remained indifferent towards them. These travellers compared India environment
with their own country. Each of them adopted distinct strategies to understand what they observed.
They writings of the foreign travellers threw light on the contemporary social and political sense, e.g
the caste system, religious belief, customs, proceedings of the royal courts, economic system,
features of architecture, sculpture etc. All these descriptions immensely helped the historians to
reconstruct Indian history from 10 th to 17th century.
Some of the notable foreign traveller’s contributions
(i) Al – Birunib He came to Ghazni in 1037 with Sultan Mahmud and developed an interest for
India. He wrote ‘Kitab- ul – Hind’ in Arabic in a simple and lucid form. He explained caste
system and social division in Indian in detail. He also provided important facts about the
contemporary religions, philosophy and science of India.
(ii) Ibn Battuta His book of travels called ‘Rihla’ written in Arabic gives us an extremely rich and
interesting details about the social and cultural life of Indian subcontinent in the 14 th century.
He extensively travelled in India and China. He meticulously recorded his observations about
new cultures, peoples, belief, values etc. When he returned, the local ruler issued
instructions that his stories be recorded. He wrote about the cities of India, its rulers, the
pious saints and an efficient postal system.
(iii) Bernier He was in India for 12 years, from 1656 – 1668 and was closely associated with the
Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shukoh’ the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan.
He especially compared the condition of India with that of Europe. He found the life of Indian
was inferior in comparsion to the life of European. He wrote a book entitled ‘Travels in
Mughal Empire’. His writing became extremely popular and were translated into English from
French and regarded as a valuable document for reconstructing the history of India.

Q.22. How did Al – Biruni describe the caste system of India?

Ans. Following were the views of Al – Biruni on the caste system
(i) Social division not new to India. Al – Biruni tried to explain the caste system by looking for
parallels in other societies. He compared Indian caste system with the social division in
ancient Persia. He attempted to suggest that social division were not unique to India. He
pointed out that within islam all men were considered equal, differing only in their
observance of piety. Besides this, other religions are also biased and divided among
themselves.
(ii) Al – Biruni disapproved the notion of pollution. Despite his acceptance of the
Brahmanical description of the caste system. Al – Biruni disapproved the notion of pollution.

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 He remarked that everything which falls into a state of impurity strives and succeeds in
retaining its original condition of purity. The conception of social pollution, intrinsic to the cast
system, was according to him, contrary to the laws of nature.
(iii) Al – Biruni’s views influenced by the study of Sanskrit texts. Al – Biruni’s description of
the caste system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit texts which laid
down the rules governing the system from the point of view of the Brahmanas. However, in
real life the system was not quite rigid.
For instance, the categories define das antyaja (born outside caste system) were often
expected to provide inexpensive labour to both peasant and zamindars. In other words,
while they were often subjected to social oppression, they were included within economic
network.

Q.23. Explain the observation of Ibn Battuta about the cities of India, with special reference to
Delhi.
Ans. Ibn Battuta’s description is quite clear and extensive about the condition of Indian cities. There is no
doubt that the description is quite helpful in understanding the lifestyle of the Indian cities.
Following abservations of Ibn Battuta are worth mentioning.
(i) Indian cities full opportunities In his work named Rihla, Ibn Battuta stated that Indian
cities had many exciting opportunities. They were useful for those who had the necessary
drive, skill and resources.
(ii) Densely populated and prosperous Ibn Battuta noted that Indian cities were densely
populated. They had bright and colourful markets trading in a variety of goods. They were
occasionally disturbed because of wars or invasions.
(iii) Description of Delhi as a vast city Written account of Ibn Battuta praises the vastness of
city of Delhi. According to Ibn Battuta, Delhi was a vast city. It had a lot of population and
was the largest city in India. Another big city was Daultabad in Maharashtra which
challenged Delhi in size.
(iv) Multi – purpose and multi – utility markets Further Ibn Battuta stated that the markets and
bazaars of the Indian cities were not only the places of economic transactions but also the
centres of social and cultural activities. Most of the bazaars had a mosque and a temple.
They also had fixed places for public performances by dancers, musicians and singers.
(v) Importance of Indian villages It is derived from the account of Ibn Battuta that many towns
derived their, wealth and prosperity through the appropriation of surplus from villages. The
farmers cultivated two crops in a year because the land was very fertile.
(vi) Demand of Indian goods in West and South Asia. The goods of India were in great
demand in both West Asia and South – East Asia. So, artisans and merchants earned huge
profits. The sub – continent was well integrated with inter Asia networks of trade and
commerce.
(vii) Efficient postal system. Ibn Battuta was also impressed by the efficiency of the postal
system which allowed merchants in sending information and remitting credit across long
distances. It also helped in dispatching good quickly.

Q.24. Explain, how the prosperity of towns has been explained by the historians on the basis of
Ibn Battuta’s observations.
Ans. (i) Cities densely populated The Indian cities were densely populated and prosperous,
except for the occasional disruptions caused by wars and invasions. It appears from Ibn
Battuta’s description that most cities had crowded streets and bright and colourful markets
that were full of wide variety of goods.
(ii) Delhi and Daulatabed Ibn Battuta described Delhi as a vast city with great population, the
largest in India. According to him, the city of Delhi covered a large area and had large
population. Similarly, he mentions that Daulatabad (in Maharashtra) was not less in
comparison to Delhi, in fact, it easily rivaled Delhi in size.
(iv) Bazaars as hub of socio – culture activities. The bazaars were not only places of
economic transactions, but also the hub of social and cultural activities. Most bazaars had a

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 mosque and a temple, and in some of them at least, spaces were marked for public
performances by dancers, musicians and singers.
(v) Indian agriculture very productive Ibn Battuta found Indian agriculture very productive
because of the fertility of the soil, which allowed farmers to cultivate two crops a year.
While Ibn Battuta was not particularly concerned with explaining the prosperity of towns,
historians have used his accounts to suggest that towns derived a significant portion of their
wealth through the appropriation of surplus from villages.

Q.24. Write about Ibn Battuta’s description of market place in Daulatabad which was famous for
music.
Ans. According to Ibn Battuta there was a market place for male and female singers. This market was
known as Tarababab. It was one of the greatest and most beautiful markets. It had numerous
shops. Every shop had a door which leads into the house of the owner. The shops were decorated
with carpets and at the centre of a shop there was a swing. Female singer dressed gorgeously
along with her attendants sat an the swing. Further in the middle of the market place, every
Thursday, musicians accompanied by his servants and slaves sat and performed. There were
mosques for offering prayers. Hindu and Muslim both came to his market. Even Hindu and Muslim
rulers also came here and enjoyed the performance of the musicians.

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