An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. fourteenth to sixteenth century)
Class 12 History · Themes in Indian History Part II · Chapter 3
CBSE Class 12 Board Examination community
View all
History
3~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- History
Physics, Chemistry, Maths + English
8~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Mathematics
- Physics
- + 3 more
Physics, Chemistry, Biology + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Physics
- Chemistry
- + 3 more
Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics + English
9~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Accountancy
- Business Studies
- + 3 more
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Physics
Hindi Elective
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- हिंदी
Mathematics
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Mathematics
Sociology
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Sociology
Economics
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Economics
Home Science
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Home Science
Urdu Elective
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- اردو
- Urdu Elective
Geography
3~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Geography
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Accountancy
English Core
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Flamingo
- Vistas
Political Science
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Political Science
Chemistry
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Chemistry
Business Studies
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Business Studies
Hindi Core
2~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- हिंदी
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
हिंदी (आधार)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
اردو (اختیاری)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
हिंदी (आधार)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
संस्कृतम् (केन्द्रिकम्)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
संस्कृत (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
اردو (کور)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Urdu Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Computer Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Fine Art · Painting
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (गायन / वादन)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Biology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Informatics Practices
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Biotechnology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
सृजनात्मक लेखन और अनुवाद
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (तबला / पखावज)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
English Elective · Kaleidoscope
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Psychology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
English Core · Flamingo
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
English Core · Vistas
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.- Space weighted by unit marks
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Summary
Vijayanagara, the "city of victory," was both a city and an empire founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara and Bukka. At its height it stretched from the Krishna river to the far south. The chapter reconstructs its history from ruins at Hampi, brought to light from 1800 by Colin Mackenzie, together with inscriptions, monuments and accounts of foreign travellers such as Abdur Razzaq, Nicolo de Conti, Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz. Four dynasties — Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu — ruled; the most famous king, Krishnadeva Raya of the Tuluva line, expanded the empire and built temples and gopurams. The amara-nayaka system, possibly derived from the Delhi Sultanate's iqta, gave military commanders territories whose revenue maintained troops, though rebellious nayakas later weakened the centre. The city was defended by seven lines of fortification that enclosed not only buildings but farmland, and was supplied by elaborate waterworks like the Kamalapuram tank and Hiriya canal. Its layout had a sacred centre with great temples such as the Virupaksha and Vitthala, a royal centre with the mahanavami dibba, Lotus Mahal and elephant stables blending Indo-Islamic and local styles, and bustling bazaars. In 1565 the combined Deccan Sultanates defeated Vijayanagara at Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) and sacked the city. The chapter also explains how archaeologists mapped and studied the site, declared a World Heritage site in 1986.
Founding and rulers of the empireThe amara-nayaka systemFortifications and water resourcesSacred and royal centresDecline, rediscovery and archaeology
Key terms
Vijayanagara
The "city of victory" and the empire founded in 1336 in the Krishna-Tungabhadra region.
Amara-nayaka system
A political arrangement under which military commanders held territories and maintained troops from their revenue.
Raya gopurams
The towering royal gateways of Vijayanagara temples, marks of imperial authority.
Mahanavami dibba
A massive platform in the royal centre linked with the great Mahanavami festival.
Krishnadeva Raya
The most famous Vijayanagara ruler (r. 1509-29) of the Tuluva dynasty, a great builder.
Hampi
The local name for the ruined site of Vijayanagara, rediscovered from 1800.
Extra questions & answers
Try one from this chapter
In which year was the Vijayanagara Empire founded according to tradition?