Class 12 History ( Themes in Indian History-II) Chapter 3 An Imperial Capital Vijayanagara

Key Concept: Influence on Modern Systems, Engineering Challenges

c) By highlighting ancient practices like gravity-fed canals as models for efficiency

[Solution Description] The construction techniques of the Hiriya canal emphasized sustainability and efficiency, which are valuable lessons for contemporary water management. The use of local materials reduced environmental impact, while the reliance on gravity laid the foundation for energy-efficient designs. Present-day engineers can leverage these methods to devise sustainable systems that minimize ecological footprints while addressing the complexities of modern water distribution networks.

Key Concept: Water Management

d) Kamalapuram tank

[Solution Description] The Kamalapuram tank was specifically built for storing rainwater and thus played a crucial role in water management during that period.

Key Concept: Fortification Purpose

c) To protect against invasions

[Solution Description] Fortifications in Vijayanagara served mainly to protect the city from invasions and attacks, ensuring the safety and security of its inhabitants and resources.

Key Concept: Structure Identification

d) Mahanavami Dibba

[Solution Description] The Mahanavami Dibba is described as having a massive platform with a base area of approximately 11,000 sq. ft and rising to a height of 40 ft. This description matches the given criteria.

Key Concept: Urban Features

c) To support agriculture and irrigation needs

[Solution Description] The gardens and water bodies in Vijayanagara served several functions, including aesthetic beauty and showcasing wealth and power. They were also crucial for agricultural purposes and providing water for various uses.

Key Concept: Concept Understanding

c) Local traditions

[Solution Description] Local traditions provide insights and perspectives that complement the information given by foreign travelers’ accounts, offering a more comprehensive understanding of history.

Key Concept: Function Association

d) Mahanavami Dibba

[Solution Description] In the king’s palace, certain structures had cultural significance and were linked to important festivals celebrated by the rulers.

Key Concept: Tank Construction

c) For irrigation and urban water supply

[Solution Description] The Kamalapuram tank was constructed mainly to supply water for irrigation purposes and meet the urban water demands of the royal center in Vijayanagara.

Key Concept: Temple Patronage

b) By legitimizing their authority through association with divine power.

[Solution Description] Temple patronage was instrumental in legitimizing the rulers’ authority by associating them with divine powers and showcasing their piety. By supporting temple activities and constructions, they gained social and political influence, reinforcing their rule through religious means.

Key Concept: Key Figures

c) Colin Mackenzie

[Solution Description] The first survey map of Hampi was prepared by Colin Mackenzie, who was an officer in the British East India Company and a pioneer in the study of Indian history and culture.

Key Concept: Function Analysis

b) Ceremonial gatherings

[Solution Description] The audience hall served as a space for royal assemblies and public interactions where the king addressed subjects, received visitors, and conducted state affairs.

Key Concept: Political Shifts

b) Aravidu

[Solution Description] The Tuluva dynasty was succeeded by the Aravidu dynasty in the Vijayanagara Empire. After the Battle of Talikota in 1565, which marked a significant defeat for the empire, the control eventually passed to the Aravidus who were the last ruling dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Key Concept: Tribute and Military

c) They allowed for the expansion of territories, enabling more extensive tribute collection.

[Solution Description] Krishnadeva Raya expanded his empire through strategic military campaigns, which enabled him to enforce and expand the tribute collection system. By conquering neighboring regions like Raichur Doab, he could demand tributes from newly subdued territories, thus increasing the state’s wealth and resources.

Key Concept: Revenue Utilization

b) Strengthening military contingents

[Solution Description] Amara-nayakas were responsible for maintaining military contingents and governing territories, which included using collected revenues to support these responsibilities. Maintaining armed forces was crucial for their role as military commanders.

Key Concept: Decline Factors

c) The Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi

[Solution Description] The Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi, also known as the Battle of Talikota, marked the beginning of the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. It was fought against an alliance of Deccan Sultanates and resulted in a critical defeat for Vijayanagara.

Key Concept: Trade Policies

b) Tax exemptions for certain goods

[Solution Description] The Vijayanagara rulers implemented various policies to encourage foreign traders and bolster their economy. One significant policy was offering tax exemptions for essential goods, which made trading more profitable and attractive for foreign merchants. This policy facilitated smoother trade processes, encouraged more frequent transactions, and resulted in economic benefits for both parties involved.

Key Concept: Cultural Influence

a) Gopurams

[Solution Description] Krishnadeva Raya is credited with adding gopurams, or monumental entrance towers, to South Indian temples. These structures became distinct features of temple architecture during his reign, reflecting both artistic innovation and religious devotion.

Key Concept: System Comparison

c) Both systems involved allocation of revenues or land to military officials.

[Solution Description] Both systems involved the allocation of land or revenue to military chiefs or officials in exchange for military service and administration. The amara-nayaka system provided lands called “amara” for management, while the iqta system allocated iqtas for revenue collection. This facilitated delegation of power and local governance.

Key Concept: Cultural Significance

b) Chariot Festival

[Solution Description] The Vitthala temple, known for its magnificent stone chariot and musical pillars, hosts the annual chariot festival. This festival involves grand processions and celebrations where deities are paraded through the streets on elaborately decorated chariots.

Key Concept: Role Identification

b) Surveyor General of India

[Solution Description]

In 1815, Colin Mackenzie was appointed as the Surveyor General of India. This position involved overseeing and conducting surveys across the Indian subcontinent, contributing significantly to cartography, geography, and archaeological studies. Colin Mackenzie is particularly known for his extensive documentation of historical sites, inscriptions, and cultural artifacts, making him a prominent figure in the early study of Indian history and archaeology.

Key Concept: Temple Count

d) Over 60

[Solution Description] The Royal Centre had over 60 temples, emphasizing the significance of temple patronage for rulers.

Key Concept: Timeline Events

b) 1800

[Solution Description] Colin Mackenzie, a British officer, is credited with rediscovering the ruins of Hampi in 1800. This marked the beginning of systematic study and documentation of Hampi’s historical sites.

Key Concept: Water Sources

b) Temple tanks

[Solution Description] As per the syllabus, water sources in the urban core included wells, rainwater tanks, and temple tanks. These were essential for water storage and supply within the region.

Key Concept: Construction Materials

a) Stone

[Solution Description] During the Vijayanagara period, stone was commonly used for constructing the foundations and principal elements of both temple and secular buildings due to its durability and availability.

Key Concept: Market Dynamics

c) It was thriving

[Solution Description] The diverse array of goods, including rubies, diamonds, grains, and meats, indicates that the market was thriving. A flourishing economy typically has a wide variety of luxury items and essentials, suggesting strong trade connections and wealth accumulation among its populace.

Key Concept: System Understanding

b) Iqta system

[Solution Description] The amara-nayaka system in the Vijayanagara Empire is often compared to the iqta system known from other regions, indicating similarities in administrative structure.

Key Concept: Bazaar Description

c) Both A and B

[Solution Description] Historical records suggest that bazaars sold a wide variety of goods, including precious stones and food items.

Key Concept: Bazaar Dynamics

c) They operated as trade hubs facilitating economic growth and cultural exchange

[Solution Description] The bazaars acted as major trading hubs where local and foreign traders could exchange goods like horses, precious gems, and sandalwood. This facilitated economic growth and cultural exchanges, contributing significantly to the prosperity of Vijayanagara.

Key Concept: Kamalapuram Tank

b) Kamalapuram Tank

[Solution Description] The Kamalapuram tank was constructed in the early fifteenth century with the specific purpose of irrigating agricultural fields and supplying water to the royal center in Vijayanagara.

Key Concept: Causes of Decline

b) Rebellious nayakas

[Solution Description] After Krishnadeva Raya, the empire faced significant resistance from rebellious nayakas, which weakened central control and strained resources.

Key Concept: Construction Details

c) 15th century

[Solution Description] According to historical records, the Kamalapuram tank was built in the early 15th century during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Key Concept: Sacred Traditions

d) The kingdom of Vali and Sugriva

[Solution Description] The hills at the northern end of Vijayanagara are commonly associated with the local tradition of Vali and Sugriva from the Ramayana, which played a significant role in choosing it as a capital due to its religious significance.

Key Concept: Krishnadeva Raya’s Policies

c) Offering daily audiences and gifts to traders

[Solution Description] Krishnadeva Raya implemented policies like giving daily audiences to foreign traders and offering them presents. These efforts were aimed at building and maintaining strong relationships with foreign merchants, encouraging trade, and securing vital resources such as horses for his army.

Key Concept: Historical Speculation

d) It was speculated to be a council chamber

[Solution Description] The building nearby to the Lotus Mahal has been hypothesized, based on the evidence provided by Mackenzie’s map and other historical records, to be a council chamber where the king met with his advisers.

Key Concept: Comparative Analysis, Historical Interpretation

d) Vijayanagara relied on fragmented alliances, while the Sultanates unified against them.

[Solution Description] The Vijayanagara Empire attempted to play off different sultanates against each other by forming short-term alliances while maintaining a semblance of peace. This strategy ultimately backfired as it failed to account for the potential unity among the sultanates. In contrast, the Deccan Sultanates effectively formed a coalition against Vijayanagara, uniting for a common cause. This strategic miscalculation and underestimation of the sultanates’ ability to collaborate was pivotal in contributing to Vijayanagara’s defeat.

Key Concept: Krishnadeva Raya’s Achievements

d) Raichur doab

[Solution Description] In 1512, Krishnadeva Raya successfully captured the Raichur doab region, a land situated between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, enhancing the empire’s resources and strategic position.

Key Concept: Documentation Techniques

c) Photography of archaeological remains

[Solution Description] Alexander Greenlaw is known for his early and significant contributions to the documentation of Vijayanagara through photography. In 1856, he captured detailed photographs of the archaeological remains at Hampi, which were among the first visual records of the site.

Key Concept: Founding Year

b) Fourteenth

[Solution Description] The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in the fourteenth century. This is a well-documented historical fact.

Key Concept: Foreign Traders

c) Welcomed and looked after

[Solution Description] According to historical accounts, foreign traders such as the Portuguese were welcomed and looked after in Vijayanagara, fostering positive trade relations.

Key Concept: Rediscovery

c) Colin Mackenzie

[Solution Description] Colin Mackenzie, a British Army officer and the first Surveyor General of India, is credited with the rediscovery of the ruins at Hampi in the early 1800s.

Key Concept: Cultural Influence

d) Vishnu

[Solution Description] The rulers of Vijayanagara prominently promoted the worship of Vishnu, reflecting their devotion and cultural influence during their reign.