An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara History - An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

Why did the imperial power of Vijayanagara decline after the death of Krishnadeva Raya ?

‘‘The relationship between India and Pakistan has been profoundly shaped by the legacy of partition.’’ Explain any two consequences of it.

Why was Vitthala temple of the Vijayanagara unique?

‘‘The relationship between India and Pakistan has been profoundly shaped by the legacy of partition.’’ Explain any two consequences of it.

Examine how the amara-nayaka system was a political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:A rural city?
Read this excerpt on Madras from the Imperial Gazetteer, 1908:
... the better European residences are built in the midst of compounds which almost attain the dignity of parks, and rice-fields frequently wind in and out between these in almost rural fashion. Even in the most thickly peopled native quarters such as Black Town and Triplicane, there is little of the crowding found in many other towns ...

1. Where and why were better European residences built?
2. Explain the condition of black towns.
3. State the meaning of gradual urbanisation of Madras.

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:The Ain on land revenue collection:
Let him (the amil-guzar) not make it a practice of taking only in cash but also in kind. The latter is effected in several ways. First, kankut: in the Hindi language kan signifies grain, and kut, estimates ... If any doubts arise, the crops should be cut and estimated in three lots, the good, the middling and the inferior, and the hesitation should be removed. Often, too, the land taken by appraisement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly, batai, also called bhaoli, the crops are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the presence of the parties. But in this case several intelligent inspectors are required; otherwise, the evil-minded and false are given to deception. Thirdly, khet-batai, when they divide the fields after they are sown. Fourthly, lang batai, after cutting the grain, they form it in heaps and divide it among themselves, and each takes his share home and turns it to profit.

1. Explain the kankut system of land revenue.
2. How was the land revenue assessed in the case of batai or bhaoli?
3. Do you think that the land revenue system of the Mughals was flexible?

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:Buddhism in practice
This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given by the Buddha to a wealthy householder named Sigala:
In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees ... by assigning them work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness; by sharing delicacies with them and by granting leave at times ...
In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and Brahmanas: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them and supplying their worldly needs.
There are similar instructions to Sigala about how to behave with his parents, teacher and wife.

1. In what ways should a master look after his servants and employees?
2. In what ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas?
3. Explain the main aspects of Buddhist philosophy.

‘‘Vijayanagara was characterised by a distinctive building style.’’ Support this statement with the sacred architectural examples of Vijayanagara.

Colin Mackenzie
Born in 1754, Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer. In 1815 he was appointed the first Surveyor General of India, a post he held till his death in 1821. 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. He says that ‘‘it struggled long under the miseries of bad management ... before the South came under the benign influence of the British government.’’ By studying Vijayanagara, Mackenzie believed that the East India Company could gain ‘‘much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still prevails among the various Tribes of Natives forming the general mass of the population to this day.’’

1. Who was the first Surveyor General of IIndia?What was his mission in India?
2. What was the purpose behind Colin Mackenzie studying the Vijayanagara Empire? Explain.
3. Explain how Mackenzie has described the British government as a benign influence on the Vijayanagara Empire.

On the map of India, mark and locate the following 16-17th century cities of Southern India. (attempt any six)

1. Bijapur.
2. Warangal.
3. Thanjavur.
4. Quilon.
5. Golconda.
6. Kanchipuram.
7. Vijayanagara.
8. Bidar.
9. Chandragiri.
10. Madurai.
11. Mysore.
12. Kolar.
13. Tirunelveli.

On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia. Trace the routes the travellers mentioned on p.176 would have taken to reach Vijayanagara.