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Class 12 History Chapter 8 Vijayanagara: The Capital of an Empire(14th–16th Century CE)
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire?
Ans: Two brothers named Harihara and Bukka.
2. When was Vijayanagara established?
Ans: In 1336 CE.
3. Who discovered the ruins of the city of Hampi?
Ans: The archaeologist Colonel Mackenzie.
4. What did the local people call the Vijayanagara Empire in contemporary times?
Ans: Karnata Empire.
5. What did the kings of Vijayanagara call themselves?
Ans: Raya.
6. What is the meaning of the word “Gajapati”?
Ans: Lord of elephants.
7. Who was the greatest king of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Ans: Krishnadeva Raya.
8. What was the name of the first ruling dynasty of Vijayanagara?
Ans: Sangama Dynasty.
9. Write the name of a book composed by Krishnadeva Raya.
Ans: Amuktamalyada.
10. What was the name of the city built by Krishnadeva Raya in memory of his mother?
Ans: Nagalapuram.
11. In which year was the Battle of Talikota fought?
Ans: In 1565 CE.
12. By what local name is the Battle of Talikota known?
Ans: The Battle of Rakshasa Tangadi.
13. What were the military commanders of the Vijayanagara Empire known as?
Ans: Nayaka.
14. Which Portuguese traveller compared Vijayanagara with Rome?
Ans: Domingo Paes.
15. Write the name of a Persian traveller who visited Vijayanagara.
Ans: Abdur Razzaq.
16. Who was the principal deity of the Virupaksha Temple?
Ans: Virupaksha (a form of Shiva).
17. When did the Portuguese capture Goa?
Ans: In 1510 CE.
18. In which year was Hampi declared a National Heritage Site?
Ans: In 1986.
19. When was Hampi declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO?
Ans: In 1986.
20. What was the result of the Battle of Talikota?
Ans: As a result of this battle, the Vijayanagara Empire declined and eventually fell.
21. What is another name of the Vijayanagara kingdom?
Ans: Hampi.
22. Who was Pampa?
Ans: The tutelary goddess worshipped by the people of the Vijayanagara kingdom.
23. To which dynasty did Krishnadeva Raya belong?
Ans: The Tuluva Dynasty.
24. From where is the word ‘Amara’ in ‘Amara Nayaka’ derived?
Ans: From the word ‘Samara.’
25. What is the meaning of the word ‘Vijayanagara’?
Ans: The City of Victory.
26. What was a ‘Kutagarashala’? H. S. ’17
Ans: A hut or shelter where travelling monks took refuge.
27. Where was Guru Nanak born? H. S. ’17
Ans: In a village named Nankana Sahib on the banks of the Ravi River in Punjab.
28. What was ‘Milkiyat’? H. S. ’17, ’18
Ans: Ownership or property.
29. Who first discovered Hampi and when? H. S. ’17
Ans: Colin Mackenzie discovered Hampi in 1800 CE.
30. Write the name of the first dynasty of Vijayanagara. H. S. ’20
Ans: Sangama Dynasty.
31. What was ‘Peshkash’? H. S. ’20
Ans: Tribute or revenue paid to a ruler.
32. In which year did the British Government abolish the practice of Sati? H. S. ’20
Ans: In 1828.
33. Who was the political mentor of Mahatma Gandhi? H. S. ’20
Ans: Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
34. In which year was the Muslim League established? H. S. ’20
Ans: In 1906.
35. Which member of the Constituent Assembly moved the Objectives Resolution? H. S. ’20
Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru.
36. What is a ‘Gopuram’? H. S. ’18
Ans: A monumental entrance gateway of a temple complex.
B. Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 2)
1. Write the names of two dynasties that ruled in South India contemporaneously with the Vijayanagara kingdom.
Ans: The Sultanate dynasty and the Gajapati dynasty.
2. How did Vijayanagara come to be known as ‘Hampi’?
Ans: Although the Vijayanagara kingdom declined in the late seventeenth century, the inhabitants of the region between the Krishna and Tungabhadrarivers remembered the empire by the name “Hampi.” It is assumed that the word “Hampi” originated from the name of the local goddess “Pampa.” 3. How did the king of Vijayanagara control the Amara Nayakas?Ans: The Amara Nayakas were the military chiefs of the Vijayanagar kingdom. The administration of individual provinces was entrusted to them. In many cases, they were almost independent. To keep them under control, the king occasionally transferred them from one province to another.
4. Write the names of the dynasties that ruled Vijayanagara.
Ans: The dynasties that ruled Vijayanagara were the Sangama Dynasty, the Saluva Dynasty, the Tuluva Dynasty, and the Aravidu Dynasty.
5. Write the names of three foreign travellers who visited Vijayanagara.
Ans: Nicolo Conti of Italy, Abdur Razzaq of Persia, and Afanasy Nikitin of Russia.
6. Where is the Hazara Rama Temple located? Mention two features of this temple.
Ans: The Hazara Rama Temple is located in the capital city of the Vijayanagara kingdom. Two features of this temple are:
(a) It was considered one of the most attractive temples in the area.
(b) Only the king and members of the royal family were allowed to enter the temple.
7. Write the names of the famous platforms in the two royal centres of Vijayanagara.
Ans: Sabhamandapa and Mahanavami.
8. What metals were collected by the inhabitants of the Khetri region of Rajasthan and the Harappan civilization of South India? H. S. ’20
Ans: The inhabitants of the Khetri region of Rajasthan and the Harappan civilization of South India collected gold and lead.
9. In which present Indian state is the “Sudarshana Lake” located? Who reconstructed it? H. S. ’20
Ans: The Sudarshana Lake is located in the present state of Gujarat. It was reconstructed by a king of the Gupta dynasty.
10. Mention two new features of temple architecture that developed in the Vijayanagara Empire. H. S. ’20
Ans: Two new features of temple architecture that developed in the Vijayanagara kingdom were:
(a) the use of gopurams in temples, and
(b) the use of flattened domes.
C. Medium Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
1. Write a note on the Virupaksha Temple.
Ans: The Virupaksha Temple was a famous temple of the Vijayanagara kingdom. It was primarily a temple dedicated to Shiva. In the local language, another name of Shiva is ‘Virupaksha.’ The construction of this temple took several centuries. On the occasion of his coronation, the greatest king of Vijayanagara, Krishnadeva Raya, had a huge mandapa constructed near the main temple. The assembly hall in front of the temple was used for various purposes. In one part, idols of deities were installed, while the remaining part was used as a stage for dance, music, and other forms of entertainment.
2. Write briefly about the Vitthala Swami Temple.
Ans: Among the notable temples of the Vijayanagara kingdom, the VitthalaSwami Temple was one of the most important. ‘Vitthala’ was believed to be another name or form of Vishnu. Therefore, it is regarded as a Vishnu temple. Like other temples, it had several halls. The sculpture and architectural technique of this temple were unparalleled. The artistic craftsmanship, beauty, and popularity of the Vitthala Temple proclaimed the glory of the Vijayanagar kingdom.
D. Essay-Type Questions: (Marks for each – 6)
1. How was the water problem of the Vijayanagara kingdom solved?
Ans: Special measures were adopted to solve the water problem of the Vijayanagara kingdom. The city was surrounded by picturesque granite hills. From these hills, many streams flowed into the kingdom. To ensure that the people did not suffer from scarcity of water, the kings constructed strong embankments along these streams and created reservoirs of various sizes. As a result, sufficient water was stored in these tanks. Water was also supplied from them to agricultural fields as required. One such reservoir was known as the “Kamalapuram Tank.” In addition, the kings of the Sangama dynasty arranged for water to be brought through canals from the Tungabhadra River.
2. Discuss the roles played by the Raya and the Nayakas in the administrative system of Vijayanagara.
Ans: ‘Raya’ was the title of the kings of Vijayanagara. The chiefs of the army were called ‘Nayakas.’ The ‘Amara Nayaka’ was an important administrative officer. They played the following roles in the administration of the kingdom:
(a) The Nayakas collected revenue from the people under their jurisdiction.
(b) They had to visit the king once a year to pay tribute and express loyalty.
(c) With a portion of the revenue collected from the people, they purchased horses and elephants to assist the king during times of war.
(d) They were also responsible for the management of temples and other religious institutions.
(e) They had to take measures for the development of agriculture in the country.
3. Discuss the construction of forts in the Vijayanagara kingdom.
Or
Describe the defence system of Vijayanagara. H. S. ’18
Ans: The Vijayanagara kingdom was a fort-based state. According to the account of the Persian ambassador Abdur Razzaq, the city of Vijayanagara was surrounded by seven successive lines of fort-like walls. The style of construction was simple. Without using cement or mortar, flat stones were laid one above another to raise high walls. There were gateways at intervals. Agricultural lands were situated within the fortifications. These forts were constructed to safeguard the empire. The second line of walls enclosed the inner parts of the city. The third line protected the royal centres. The secured gateways of the forts were connected with the main entrances leading to the city. The defence system also encompassed agricultural fields. Within the walls surrounding the capital, there was sufficient cultivable land so that even if the city was besieged by enemies or calamities, the inhabitants would not suffer from food scarcity.
4. Discuss the causes of the decline of the Vijayanagara kingdom. H. S. ’16
Ans: Vijayanagara was one of the most powerful states of medieval India. The major decline began after the Battle of Talikota in 1565 in the sixteenth century. There were several causes of its decline, such as:
(a) The Nayakas and military chiefs were largely responsible for the weakening of the empire. At times, they became powerful and declared themselves independent, thereby posing a threat to the central authority.
(b) In the sixteenth century, the establishment of Portuguese political power in India became a threat to Vijayanagara. After Krishnadeva Raya, King Sadasiva Raya became a puppet in the hands of the commander Rama Raya. On the other hand, Rama Raya acted as an ally of the Portuguese. Taking advantage of the situation, the Portuguese instigated the Sultans of the Bahmani kingdom against the Vijayanagara kingdom.
(c) The successors of the great king Krishnadeva Raya were weak. They failed to secure the loyalty of the provincial governors as the earlier rulers had done.
(d) Towards the end, instead of adopting policies for the development of the kingdom and the welfare of the people, the rulers became luxurious. As a result, the kingdom rapidly moved towards decline.
6. Who were the Alvars and the Nayanars? H. S. ’15, 16, 18
Ans: The Alvars were devotees of Vishnu. Their rise took place in the sixth century. They devoted themselves with sincerity and dedication to the service and worship of Vishnu in various ways. On the other hand, the devotees of Shiva were known as Nayanars. The Nayanars accepted Shiva as their supreme deity and dedicated themselves to his worship and service. Both groups of devotees identified their respective pilgrimage centres and travelled from place to place singing hymns in the Tamil language. This practice continues to some extent even today.
7. Who was Colin Mackenzie? Write about his contribution to the history of Vijayanagara. H. S. ’15
Ans: Colin Mackenzie was an engineer, cartographer, and antiquarian of the British East India Company. He was born in 1754 in England. As an antiquarian, he travelled to various parts of India and worked on compiling local histories and surveying historical sites. In 1800, he visited the Vijayanagara region and discovered the ruins of the city of Hampi.
8. Give a brief account of the progress in the development of temple architecture in ancient India. H. S. ’16
Ans: In ancient Indian temple architecture, stupas and monasteries were particularly significant. The stupas were constructed of earth and were hemispherical in shape. Later, this dome-like structure came to be known as the ‘anda.’ As time passed, the architectural style gradually became more complex and assumed more balanced and square forms. Alongside the construction of stupas, temples were built for the installation of images of deities. In the initial stage, temples were square-shaped structures known as the ‘garbhagriha.’ Later, a tall superstructure was built above the sanctum, which was called the ‘shikhara.’ The temples were decorated with various sculptures.
9. Who were the Amara Nayakas? What role did they play in the Vijayanagara Empire? H. S. ’17
Ans: The Amara Nayakas were the military chiefs of the Vijayanagar kingdom. The administration of individual provinces was entrusted to them, and in many cases, they were almost independent. To keep them under control, the king occasionally transferred them from one province to another. TheAmara Nayakas collected taxes from the people, retained a portion for themselves, and paid the rest to the king. They were required to provide military assistance to the king whenever necessary. The Amara Nayakas had to appear before the king annually with valuable gifts to express their loyalty. If any Nayaka rebelled against the king, he was suppressed with strict measures. In many cases, the Amara Nayakas became oppressive due to excessive power, and its effects were felt throughout the kingdom. Their arbitrary conduct was also responsible for the decline of Vijayanagara.
