Class 12 History - CBSE
An Imperial Capital Vijayanagara
This chapter explores the vibrant history of Vijayanagara, the 'City of Victory', established in the fourteenth century in the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab. It examines the rise and fall of the empire, its dynamic political landscape dominated by dynasties like Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu, and the contributions of iconic rulers such as Krishnadeva Raya. Students will study the architectural splendor of its capital, temple networks, water resource management, and contemporary accounts left by foreign travelers like Domingo Paes and Abdur Razzaq. For CBSE board exams, this chapter is crucial for map work, long descriptive answers on urban planning, and source-based questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Rayas of Vijayanagara
The title 'Rayas' was adopted by the kings of Vijayanagara, with Krishnadeva Raya being the most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, known for expanding the empire and patronizing art and literature.
The Vijayanagara Capital and Its Environs
The capital was fortified on multiple levels, enclosing not just the royal palace and sacred centers, but also agricultural tracts, orchards, and extensive water reservoirs within the city walls.
The Sacred Center
Centered around the rocky northern hills on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, this area housed magnificent temples like the Virupaksha and Vittala, serving as the religious heart of the empire.
The Royal Center
Located in the southwestern part of the capital, it featured over 60 temples and grand secular structures like the Lotus Mahal and the Mahanavami Dibba, reflecting royal authority.
Water Resources
Due to its location in an arid zone, the empire developed sophisticated water management systems, notably the Kamalapura tank and elaborate canal networks fed by the Tungabhadra river.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In CBSE Class 12 History, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions often include a 5 or 8-mark descriptive question on architectural features or water resources, source-based passage questions from foreign traveler accounts, and mandatory map pointing of important sites like Vijayanagara, Hampi, or the Tungabhadra river.
Frequently Asked Questions
It was a massive platform in the Royal Center associated with the Mahanavami festival, where the king displayed his prestige, power, and suzerainty through rituals, animal sacrifices, and military parades.
It was a massive platform in the Royal Center associated with the Mahanavami festival, where the king displayed his prestige, power, and suzerainty through rituals, animal sacrifices, and military parades.
Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and surveyor who worked for the East India Company. He prepared the first detailed map of the Hampi ruins in 1800, preserving invaluable historical data about the empire.
Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and surveyor who worked for the East India Company. He prepared the first detailed map of the Hampi ruins in 1800, preserving invaluable historical data about the empire.
Incorporating agricultural fields and orchards inside the fortifications ensured that the population could sustain themselves during prolonged military sieges by enemy kingdoms.
Incorporating agricultural fields and orchards inside the fortifications ensured that the population could sustain themselves during prolonged military sieges by enemy kingdoms.
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