AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL : VIJAYANAGARA
Q) Who brought the ruins of Hampi to light?
Answer: Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and antiquarian, brought the ruins of Hampi to light in 1800.
Q) When was the Vijayanagara Empire founded?
Answer: The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka.
Q) What were the challenges faced by the Vijayanagara rulers?
Answer: The Vijayanagara rulers faced challenges from rival kingdoms, such as the Sultans of the Deccan and the Gajapati rulers of Orissa.
Q) How did the Vijayanagara rulers contribute to architecture?
Answer: The Vijayanagara rulers patronized architecture and built on the traditions of previous kingdoms. They developed new architectural styles and incorporated elements from different cultures.
Q) What role did trade play in the prosperity of Vijayanagara?
Answer: Trade played a significant role in the prosperity of Vijayanagara. The city was a major trading center for spices, textiles, and precious stones. Revenue from trade contributed to the wealth of the state.
Q) What were some of the natural features that influenced the location of Vijayanagara?
Answer: The city was located in a natural basin formed by the Tungabhadra River, surrounded by granite hills and streams.
Q) How did the rulers of Vijayanagara manage water resources in the arid region?
Answer: They built embankments along streams to create reservoirs, dug tanks, and constructed canals to transport water from the Tungabhadra River.
Q) What was the significance of the fortifications around Vijayanagara?
Answer: The fortifications enclosed not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests, protecting the food supply and making it difficult for enemies to starve the defenders into submission.
Q) What were some of the key features of the urban core of Vijayanagara?
Answer: The urban core included houses of ordinary people, rich traders, and Muslims, as well as numerous shrines, small temples, and bazaars.
Q) What was the role of the royal center in Vijayanagara?
Answer: The royal center housed over 60 temples and 30 palace complexes, reflecting the importance of religious patronage and the rulers’ desire to legitimize their authority.
Q) What are some of the natural features that influenced the location of Vijayanagara?
Answer: The city was located in a natural basin formed by the Tungabhadra River, surrounded by granite hills and streams.
Q) How did the rulers of Vijayanagara manage water resources in the arid region?
Answer: They built embankments along streams to create reservoirs, dug tanks, and constructed canals to transport water from the Tungabhadra River.
Q) What was the significance of the fortifications around Vijayanagara?
Answer: The fortifications enclosed not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests, protecting the food supply and making it difficult for enemies to starve the defenders into submission.
Q) What were some of the key features of the urban core of Vijayanagara?
Answer: The urban core included houses of ordinary people, rich traders, and Muslims, as well as numerous shrines, small temples, and bazaars.
Q) What was the role of the royal center in Vijayanagara?
Answer: The royal center housed over 60 temples and 30 palace complexes, reflecting the importance of religious patronage and the rulers’ desire to legitimize their authority.
Q) What was the purpose of the agricultural tracts within the fortified area?
Answer: The agricultural tracts were incorporated to ensure a steady food supply for the city’s inhabitants during sieges.
Q) How did the Vijayanagara rulers adapt their architectural style?
Answer: They incorporated elements of Indo-Islamic architecture, particularly in the design of gateways and domes.
Q) What evidence suggests the presence of a wealthy merchant community in Vijayanagara?
Answer: Archaeologists have found fine Chinese porcelain in some areas, indicating the presence of wealthy traders.
Q) What were the sources of water for the ordinary town dwellers of Vijayanagara?
Answer: They relied on wells, rainwater tanks, and temple tanks.
Q) How did the rulers of Vijayanagara use religious patronage to legitimize their authority?
Answer: They built numerous temples and associated themselves with the divinities housed in the shrines.
Q) How was the initial information on Vijayanagara gathered?
Answer: The initial information on Vijayanagara was gathered from travelers’ accounts and inscriptions.
Q) What was the purpose of the extensive surveys conducted in the early 1980s?
Answer: The purpose of the extensive surveys was to document the material remains at Vijayanagara in detail using a variety of recording techniques.
Q) What were the key steps involved in mapping Vijayanagara?
Answer: The key steps involved in mapping Vijayanagara were dividing the area into squares, subdividing each square into smaller squares, and further subdividing the smaller squares.
Q) What evidence do archaeologists use to locate traces of roads, paths, and bazaars?
Answer: Archaeologists use finds of pillar bases and platforms to locate traces of roads, paths, and bazaars.
Q) What additional information do travelers’ accounts provide about Vijayanagara?
Answer: Travelers’ accounts provide information about the vibrant life of the times, including the use of wooden structures and the cultural influences present in the city.