Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty.
The empire was established to resist the Muslim invasions and to protect Hindu culture and traditions.
Harihara I and Bukka Raya I were originally feudatories of the Hoysala dynasty.
The capital city, Vijayanagara, was located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in present-day Karnataka.
The empire had four main dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu.
The reign of Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529) is considered the golden age of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Krishna Deva Raya was a great patron of art and literature, and his court was adorned by the Ashtadiggajas, or eight poets.
Amuktamalyada, a Telugu work on polity and administration, was written by Krishna Deva Raya.
The empire was known for its advancements in architecture, including the construction of the Virupaksha Temple and the Vittala Temple.
The famous Hampi ruins are a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The economy of the empire was based on agriculture, trade, and commerce.
The empire had strong trade relations with the Portuguese, Arabs, and Southeast Asian countries.
The Bahmani Sultanate was the main rival of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The empire's military strength included a large infantry, cavalry, and war elephants.
Village self-governance and land revenue administration were key features of the Vijayanagara administrative system.
The empire declined after the Battle of Talikota in 1565, where the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara army.
The rulers were known for their religious tolerance and patronage of various religious communities.
Vijayanagara promoted the Bhakti movement, with saints like Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa contributing to its growth.
The use of Persian and Devanagari scripts in inscriptions indicates cultural synthesis.
The Vijayanagara rulers introduced a well-organized taxation system and currency.
They used gold coins called pagodas for trade.
The empire's irrigation systems, such as tanks and canals, supported agricultural productivity.
The literary contributions of the empire include works in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit.
The decline of the empire led to the rise of regional powers such as the Nayakas and the Mysore kingdom.
Architectural styles like the Dravidian style were refined during this period.
The Vittala Temple's stone chariot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The reign of Devaraya II (1422–1446) was marked by administrative reforms and military campaigns.
The empire's strategic location facilitated control over peninsular India.
Vijayanagara inscriptions provide valuable information about the socio-economic and cultural life of the period.
The collapse of the empire resulted in the fragmentation of South India into smaller states.
The empire's legacy continues to influence South Indian culture and architecture.