UPSC CSE Prelims
Vijayanagara Empire Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Krishnadevaraya

Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire maintained cordial relations with the Portuguese. In 1510, he permitted the Portuguese governor Alfonso de Albuquerque to build a fort at Bhatkal on the western coast. This strengthened trade relations between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Portuguese.

✅ Krishnadevaraya is Correct: He allowed the Portuguese to construct a fort at Bhatkal to promote trade and strategic cooperation.

❌ Narasimha Saluva is Incorrect: His reign preceded the period of significant Portuguese political influence in India.

❌ Muhammad Shah III is Incorrect: He ruled before the arrival of the Portuguese in India (1498).

❌ Yusuf Adil Shah is Incorrect: He had hostile relations with the Portuguese, especially regarding Goa.

Short Notes: Vijayanagara Empire and the Portuguese

• Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498 at Calicut.

• Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) was the greatest ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty.

• Portuguese governor Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510.

• Bhatkal was an important port on the Karnataka coast.

• Vijayanagara imported horses, firearms, and luxury goods through Portuguese traders.

• Krishnadevaraya wrote the Telugu work Amuktamalyada.

• The empire reached its peak during Krishnadevaraya's reign.

• The Battle of Talikota (1565) led to the decline of Vijayanagara.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Devaraya I

Devaraya I (r. 1406-1422 CE) of the Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam/barrage across the Tungabhadra River around 1410 CE and commissioned a 24 km long canal-cum-aqueduct to bring water to the capital city of Vijayanagara. This monumental irrigation project brought immense prosperity to the kingdom, as documented by Portuguese traveler Fernão Nunes (Nuniz), who provided detailed accounts of Devaraya I's infrastructure projects. These hydraulic works stand as a testament to the advanced engineering capabilities of the Vijayanagara Empire.

📝 Short Notes: Vijayanagara Empire - Major Rulers and Contributions

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Coins

The term "Fanam" in medieval India referred to a gold or silver coin that was widely used in South India, particularly in regions like the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayakas of Madurai, and various Deccan states. It was a small denomination currency used extensively in trade and commerce from the medieval period until the 19th century.

📝 Short Notes: Medieval Indian Coinage

• Fanam: A gold/silver coin primarily used in South India (Vijayanagara Empire, Madurai Nayakas, Travancore, Mysore); continued until British period in some regions
• Tanka: Silver coin introduced by Iltutmish of Delhi Sultanate; became standard currency in North India
• Jital: Copper coin used during Delhi Sultanate period for smaller transactions
• Hun: Small copper coin used in various regional kingdoms; 1 Tanka = 48 Jitals or multiple Huns
• Pagoda (Varaha): Gold coin of South India, especially Vijayanagara Empire; featured Hindu deities
• Rupiya: Silver coin introduced by Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545); standardized by Akbar; became foundation of modern rupee

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2, 3 and 4

According to the Portuguese chronicler Fernão Nuniz, who visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishnadevaraya, women in the royal household were trained and employed in diverse professional roles. His accounts specifically mention their expertise in wrestling, astrology, accounting, and soothsaying, highlighting the progressive attitude towards women's education and professional engagement in the empire.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Women were skilled in wrestling and martial arts, serving as guards and warriors in the royal palace.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Women practiced astrology and were employed as astrologers in the royal court.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Women were trained in accounting and managed financial records in the palace administration.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Women practiced soothsaying (divination) and fortune-telling at the royal court.

📝 Short Notes: Women in Vijayanagara Empire

• Foreign Accounts: Portuguese travelers like Domingo Paes, Fernão Nuniz, and Italian Niccolò de' Conti provided detailed accounts of women's status in Vijayanagara.
• Royal Employment: Women served in various professional capacities in the royal household including guards, wrestlers, accountants, astrologers, musicians, and dancers.
• Literary Patronage: Krishnadevaraya patronized female poets and writers; several women contributed to Telugu and Sanskrit literature during this period.
• Military Roles: Women were trained in martial arts and archery; some served as bodyguards to queens and royal women.
• Economic Independence: Women engaged in trade, owned property, and had inheritance rights, showing their economic agency.
• Social Status: Despite progressive roles in certain areas, practices like Sati and restrictions on widow remarriage also existed in the empire.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 Only

This question tests knowledge about the emergence of various provincial kingdoms in Indian history. Only statement 2 is correct, as the Mysore Kingdom indeed emerged from the Vijayanagara Empire after its fall in 1565.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Nizamat of Arcot (Carnatic) was established by Aurangzeb as a subdivision under the Deccan Subedar. While it was administratively under the Nizam of Hyderabad, it did not emerge out of Hyderabad State; rather, both were Mughal administrative units.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Mysore Kingdom emerged from the Vijayanagara Empire. After the Battle of Talikota (1565), the Wodeyar dynasty, which had been subordinate chiefs under Vijayanagara, established their independent kingdom at Mysore.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed by Rohilla Afghans who migrated to India in the 18th century. Ali Muhammad Khan established this kingdom by taking advantage of the power vacuum following Nadir Shah's invasion (1739), not from territories directly occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

📝 Short Notes: Successor States of Mughal and Vijayanagara Empires

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Krishna Deva Raya's administration implemented a systematic land revenue system where tax rates varied according to land quality, fertility, and irrigation facilities. More productive and well-irrigated lands were taxed at higher rates, while less fertile lands attracted lower levies. This differential taxation ensured equity and maximized revenue collection.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Vijayanagara Empire under Krishna Deva Raya imposed taxes on various economic activities beyond agriculture. Private owners of workshops and industrial establishments paid specific industry taxes (vari-vasoolu or professional taxes). These levies on artisans, weavers, blacksmiths, and other craftsmen formed an important component of the state's non-agrarian revenue.

Detailed Explanation:

Harihara I founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 along with his brother Bukka I, establishing the capital Vijayanagara (Hampi) on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River (a tributary of the Krishna River).

The rulers of the Sangama dynasty ruled as agents of the deity Virupaksha (a form of Lord Shiva), who was believed to be the true owner of all land south of the Krishna River, with royal orders signed in the name of 'Shri Virupaksha'.

Detailed Explanation:

Mahattara and Pattakila were designations for village headmen in medieval India, responsible for local administration and revenue collection.

Mahattara was the superior/chief headman of the village, while Pattakila was the subordinate/assistant headman who assisted in administrative duties.