1. Dynasties of the Vijayanagar Empire
- Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485)
- Founders: Harihara I & Bukka Raya I
- Key Rulers:
- Deva Raya I (Irrigation works, Nicolo Conti’s visit)
- Deva Raya II (Peak of Sangama rule, Abdur Razzaq’s visit)
- Saluva Dynasty (1485–1505)
- Transitional dynasty, weakened by rebellions.
- Tuluva Dynasty (1505–1570)
- Golden Age of Vijayanagar.
- Krishnadevaraya (Greatest ruler, military conquests, cultural patronage)
- Achyuta Deva Raya (Successor)
- Sadasiva Raya (Last effective ruler)
- Aravidu Dynasty (1570–1646)
- Aliya Rama Raya (Defeated at Battle of Talikota)
- Shifted capital to Penukonda, Chandragiri, Vellore
2. Key Rulers
- Harihara I & Bukka Raya I (Founders, 1336 CE)
- Deva Raya I & II (Sangama peak)
- Krishnadevaraya (Tuluva, patron of Ashtadiggajas, wrote Amuktamalyada)
- Aliya Rama Raya (Defeat at Talikota, 1565 CE)
3. Significant Battles & Events
- Battle of Talikota (1565) – Vijayanagar vs. Deccan Sultanates (Destruction of Hampi)
- Battle of Raichur (1520) – Krishnadevaraya’s victory over Bijapur
- Sack of Vijayanagara – Capital destroyed post-Talikota
- Shift of Capital – To Penukonda, Chandragiri, Vellore (Aravidu Dynasty)
4. Administration & Governance
- Nayaka System – Provincial governors with autonomy
- Amaram/Amaranayaka System – Land grants for military service
- Centralized Monarchy – King + Council of Ministers (Mahanayakacharya, Dandanayaka)
- Land Revenue – Primary income source
5. Economy & Society
- Agriculture – Tank irrigation (Deva Raya I’s projects)
- Trade – Ports like Muziris, trade with Portuguese, Arabs, Persians
- Coinage – Gold Varaha, other metallic coins
- Social Hierarchy – Caste-based but flexible under royal patronage
- Status of Women – Devadasi system, limited rights but some economic roles
6. Art, Architecture & Culture
Architecture (Vijayanagara Style)
- Fusion of Dravidian & Indo-Islamic styles
- Temples:
- Virupaksha Temple (Hampi)
- Vittala Temple (Stone Chariot)
- Hazara Rama Temple (Ramayana carvings)
- Lepakshi Temple (Andhra)
- Gopurams (Massive gateways)
- Pillared Halls (Kalyanamandapas)
Literature & Patronage
- Multilingual (Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil)
- Ashtadiggajas – 8 poets under Krishnadevaraya (e.g., Allasani Peddana)
- Amuktamalyada – Krishnadevaraya’s Telugu epic
- Religious Tolerance – Hindus, Muslims, Jains coexisted
7. Foreign Travelers & Their Accounts
| Traveler | Nationality | Ruler | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolo Conti | Italian | Deva Raya I | Wealth, irrigation |
| Abdur Razzaq | Persian | Deva Raya II | Prosperity, grandeur |
| Domingo Paes | Portuguese | Krishnadevaraya | Described Hampi’s splendor |
| Fernao Nuniz | Portuguese | Achyuta Deva Raya | Wrote about history & decline |
8. Decline & Legacy
- Battle of Talikota (1565) – Defeat by Deccan Sultanates
- Destruction of Hampi – Capital ruined, shifted to Penukonda
- Legacy:
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (Hampi)
- Influence on Nayaka kingdoms (Madurai, Thanjavur)
Why Important for UPSC?
- History: Dynastic shifts, battles, foreign accounts.
- Art & Culture: Architecture (Hampi, temples), literature.
- Economy & Administration: Nayaka system, trade.
- Previous Year Questions: Often asked in Prelims & Mains.
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