1.In 1565, Rama Raya, the Chief Minister of Vijayanagara was defeated by the combined armies of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda at the battle of __________.
a) Panipat
b) Plassey
c) Talikota
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital Vijayanagara)

Ans: c) Talikota

2.State any two characteristic features of the Vitthala temple of Vijayanagara.
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• The temple has several halls and a unique shrine designed as a chariot.
• A characteristic feature of the temple complexes is the chariot streets that extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line.
• These streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions in which merchants set up their shops.

3.State any two features of the urban core of Vijayanagara.
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• Archaeologists have found fine Chinese porcelain in some areas of the urban core and that indicates that these areas may have been occupied by rich traders.
• Field surveys indicate that the entire area was dotted with numerous shrines and small temples.
• Tombs and mosques located here have distinctive functions, yet their architecture resembles that of the mandapas found in the temples of Hampi.

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4.State any two reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire.
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• The military ambitions of the rulers of Vijayanagara as well as those of the Deccan Sultanates resulted in shifting alignments. Eventually this led to an alliance of the Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
• In 1565 the battle at Talikota, where the forces were routed by the combined armies of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda. The victorious armies sacked the city of Vijayanagara.The city was totally abandoned within a few years.

5.Why were agricultural tracts incorporated within the fortified areas of the Vijayanagara empire ?
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• The objective of medieval sieges was to starve the defenders into submission. These sieges could last for several months and sometimes even years. Normally rulers tried to be prepared for such situations by building large granaries within fortified areas. The rulers of Vijayanagara adopted a more expensive and elaborate strategy of protecting the agricultural belt itself.
• The fort was entered through well-guarded gates, which linked the city to the major roads.
• The arch on the gateway leading into the fortified settlement as well as the dome over the gate are regarded as typical features of the architecture introduced by the Turkish Sultans.

6.What were the achievements of Krishnadevaraya ?
(Chapter 7:An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• Krishnadeva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.
• Krishnadeva Raya’s rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation.
• Under Krishnadeva Raya the kingdom remained in a constant state of military preparedness, but flourished under conditions of unparalleled peace and prosperity.
• 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.
• Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509-29), the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara, composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada.

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7.Write a note on Mahanavami dibba.
(Chapter 7:An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• "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.
• 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, known variously as Dusehra (northern India), Durga Puja (in Bengal)and Navaratri or Mahanavami (in peninsular India).
• The Vijayanagara kings displayed their prestige, power and suzerainty on this occasion.
• The ceremonies performed on the occasion included worship of the image, worship of the state horse, and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.

8.Analyse the rituals associated with Mahanavami Dibba at the Royal Centre in Vijayanagara.
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• Mahanavami the ten-day Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October, known variously as Dusehra in northern India , Durga Puja in Bengal and Navaratri or Mahanavami in peninsular India was celebrated in Mahanavami Dibba.
• The Vijayanagara kings displayed their prestige, power and suzerainty on this occasion.
• The ceremonies performed on the occasion included worship of the image, worship of the state horse, and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
• 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.
• 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 king as well as the stipulated tribute.

9.Analyse the main features of Amara-Nayaka System which was introduced in Vijayanagara Empire.
(Chapter 7 : An Imperial Capital - Vijayanagara)

Ans:

• The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• 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.
• They retained part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants.
• The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty.

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