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Theme 7 An Imperial Capital Vijayanagara (c fourteenth to sixteenth…
Theme 7 An Imperial Capital Vijayanagara (c fourteenth to sixteenth century)
Introduction
Vijayanagara or "
City of Victory
" => Name of City and Kingdom
Founded in
14th century
, Sacked and
deserted in 16th century (1565)
.
Krishna-Tungabadra doab
=> Known as
Hampi
(Mother godess "
Pampadevi
")
1. Hampi's discovery
18th Century - Colonel Colin Mackenzie
Priests of Vrupaksha Temple & Pampadevi shrine.
Photographers started after that.
2. Rayas, Nayakas and Sultans
Vijayanagara Empire was founded by
Harihara,Bukka
brothers in
1336
.
Contemporaries used the word
Karnataka Samrajyamu
Incorporated Cholas(TN) and Hoysalas(KA).
Borrowed ideas in architecture from others.
Competed with
Gajapati
=> Lord of elephants(orissa),
Ashvapati
=> Horses(Deccan sultans),
Narapati
=> Men (Themselves).
Called themeselves as
Rayas
.
Kings and Traders
Cavalry
was important in warfare at that time.
Horses from arabia and central Asia
were important.
Initially
Horse Trade
was controlled by Arabs and then some
Kuthirai Chettis
involved.
Then came the
Portuguese
and the
muskets
in the west coast after
1498
.
Vijayanagara was known for its
spices, precious stones and textiles
Rise and decline
The successions followed by
Sangamas
,
Saluvas
and then
Tuluvas
These people were consisting of ruling elites and military commanders.
Krishnadeva Raya
was most successful ruler who defeated orissa and sultan of Bijapur rulers.
He was called as
Establisher of Yavana Kingdom
.
Built a new city called
Nagalapuram
on the name of his mother.
Some rebels arose like
Nayakars
and
Aravidu
Rama Raya
's period was the decline. Defeated by Bijapur,Ahmadnagar,Golconda rulers.
The City of Vijayanagara was abandoned by the sultans.
The Amara-Nayakas
There were military commanders who were called as
Nayakars
.
They were given provisions of
Amara-Nayakars
similar to
Iqta
system of Sultanates.
The amara nayakars were given province and they need to collect revenues and maintain military.
The empire expanded during this period.
In 17th Century, the Nayakars mostly formed
Independent Kingdoms
which resulted in fall of imperial structure.
3. City of Vijayanagara
Water Resources
On the bank of river
Tungabadra
, surrounded by hills.
2 parts => Sacred centre, Urban centre.
Tanks, reservoirs and canals built.
Kamalapuram tank
supplied water to Royal centre.
Hiriya Canal
seperated the 2 parts. Built by
Sangama Dynasty
Fortfication and roads
Several layers of fortification including the agri lands. This is to
protect the farmers from seige
by defenders.
Unique
arch
leading to gateway and the
dome
are introduced by
Turkinsh sulatans
. Called as
Indo-Islamic
architecture.
Roads
built between hill valleys. Connected temple
gateways
and
bazars
.
The urban Centre
North-eastern part - Chinese porcelain found - occupied by rich traders - also muslims (tombs and mosques found - resembles hampi temple mandapas)
Various communities lived - shrines and small tenmples found.
wells, rainwater tanks, temple tanks supplied water to the people.
4. The Royal Centre
60 temples and 30 palaces(building complexes)
Mahanavami dibba
There was an audience hall and a
Mahanavami dibba
- which is 11000 sq.ft area and 40 ft height.
Might be used for ceremonies, sacrifices and other precessions during the mahanavami/dussera.
Other military ceremonies and rituals might have been done by
Nayakas
Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stable
The lotus mahal is a beautiful structure very close to the elephant stable.
Might be used as a
Council chamber
where the king discusses with his advisors.
Some temples were than while a lot of them were in the Sacred Centre. Out of which
Hazara Rama Temple
was there with elephant sculptures.
5. The Sacred Centre
The choice of the capital
The choice of the capital - driven by
temples, shrines and divine presence.
Beleifs
- Hill
shelter for Vali,Sugriva
in Ramayana -
Pampadevi's penance to marry Virupaksha
(form of Shiva) => This marriage is even celebrated now every year.
The kings claimed - They're on god's behalf. => Royal orders signed by
"Shri Virupaksha"
=> Called themselves
"Hindu Suratranas"
(meaning Hindu Sultans)
Gopurams and Madapas
Gopurams marked the presence of the temple from long distance. Also showed the King's power.
Mandapas
were halls which were used for any cultural activities and marriages (
Kalyana Mandapas
)
Vitthala temple
=> form of Vishnu (Maharashtra) => Example of adaptation of different cultures and imperialism. The central shrine => form of
chariot
=> Extended
Chariot streets
with local vendors.
(eg:-)
Virupaksha,Vitthala
temples
6. Plotting Palaces, Temples
and Bazaars
Mapping
Divided into
25 squares
marked with alphabets
Divided
three times 5km => 1 km => 250 m
Letter
I
is not used
Timeline 1 - Major Political Developments
c .1200-1300 Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate (1206)
c .1300-1400 Establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire (1336?);
Establishment of the Bahmani kingdom (1347);
Sultanates in Jaunpur, Kashmir and Madura
c .1400-1500 Establishment of the Gajapati kingdom of Orissa (1435);
Establishment of the Sultanates of Gujarat and Malwa;
Emergence of the Sultanates of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Berar (1490)
c .1500-1600 Conquest of Goa by the Portuguese (1510);
Collapse of the Bahmani kingdom, emergence of the Sultanate of Golconda (1518);
Establishment of the Mughal empire by Babur (1526)
Timeline 2 - Landmarks in the Discovery and Conservation of Vijayanagara
1800 Colin Mackenzie visits Vijayanagara
1856 Alexander Greenlaw takes the first detailed photographs of archaeological remains at Hampi
1876 J.F. Fleet begins documenting the inscriptions on the temple walls at the site
1902 Conservation begins under John Marshall
1986 Hampi declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO