The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE by two brothers in South India. It lasted from the 14th to 16th centuries and was a major power in southern India, administering a vast area. The empire had a highly organized administrative system and powerful army. It was a period of cultural and artistic flourishing but began declining after the death of its strong ruler Krishnadeva Raya in 1529 CE and was eventually destroyed by an alliance of Muslim sultanates in 1565 CE.

1. PRESENTED BY – GAURI NANDA
CLASS – XII (HUMANITIES)

2. Vijayanagara or ‘city of victory’.
Time period – fourteen to sixteen century
Founders – brothers (hari hara & bukka )
Location – it stretched from river krishna in north to the extreme south of the
peninsula.
Sources (information) – oral stories,archaeological finds, monuments &
inscriptions.

3. the empire’s legacy includes many monuments spread over south india,the best
known of which is the group at hampi.
Archaeological excavations at city of victory have revealed the empire’s power &
wealth.
This empire created a period in the history of southernindia that surpassed
regionalism by promoting hinduism as a unifying factor.

4. Colonel Colin Mackenzie was an Engineer &antiquarian.
 In 1800, he excavated the ruins at hampi.
 Mackenzie only prepared the first survey map of this site
 The history of the city was reconstructed through information of the priest of the virupaksha
temple , foreign travellers & literature written in saskrit, tamil & telugu.

5. HE WAS BORN IN THE YEAR 1754
HE WAS A FAMOUS ENGINEER, SURVEYOR &
CARTOGRAPHER.
IN 1815 HE WAS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST SURVEYOR
GENERAL OF INDIA.
HE HELD HIS POST TILL HIS DEATH IN 1821
HE BELIEVED THAT BY STUDYING VIJAYANAGARA & EAST
INDIA COMPANY CAN GAIN A LOT OF INFORMATION ON
NUMEROUS SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS, LAWS & CULTURE.

6. Through the epigraphic evidences it seen that two brothers , harihara & bukka ,
founded the vijayanagara empire in 1336.
People of this empire spoke different languages & followed various religious
traditions .
On the northern border the empire kings fought with sultans of deccan &
gajapati rulers of orissa.

8. THE EMPIRE HAD A WELL ORGANISED ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM.
THE KING WAS HEAD OF ALL STATES IN EMPIRE.
THERE WAS COUNCIL OF MINISTERS – TO ASSIST THE KING IN
ADMINISTRATION WORK.
THE EMPIRE WAS DIVIDED INTO SIX PROVINCES.

9.  Naik - a governor who administered each province.
 The provinces were divided into districts.
 The districts were further divided into smaller units namely villages.
 The village was looked after by hereditary officers like –
 Accountants
 Watchmen
 The weightsmen
 Officers in charge of forced labour
 Mahanayakacharya – he is an officer & contact point between the villagers & central
administration.

12. THE ARMY CONSISTED OF –
INFANTRY
CAVALRY
ELEPHANTRY
THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF WAS IN CHARGE OF THE ARMY.

14. THE SOCIETY WAS SYSTEMIZED
PREVLENT IN THE SOCIETY WERE –
CHILD MARRIAGE
POLYGAMY
SATI
THE KINGS ALLOWED FREEDOM OF RELIGION.

15. WOMEN OCCUPIED A HIGH POSITION & TOOK AN ACTIVE PART IN THE
POLITICAL , SOCIAL & LITERARY LIFE OF THE EMPIRE.
THEY WERE EDUCATED & TRAINED IN –
WRESLING
IN USE OF VARIOUS WEAPONS OF OFFENCE & DEFENCE
IN MUSIC & FINE ARTS
NUNIZ WRITES THAT THE KING HAD WOMEN ASTROLOGERS, CLERKS ,
ACCOUINTANTS, GUARDS & WRESTLERS.

16. HE WAS OF THE TULUVA DYNASTY WAS THE MOST FAMOUS
KING OF THE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE.
ACCORDING TO DOMINGO PAES, A PORTUGUESE TRAVELLER
- “KRISHNADEVA RAYA WAS THE MOST FEARED & PERFECT
KING THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE “.

17. HE CONQUERED SIVASAMUDRAM IN 1510 AD & RAICHUR IN 1512 AD
IN 1523 AD HE CAPTURED ORISSA & WARANGAL
HIS EMPIRE EXTENTED FROM RIVER KRISHNA IN THE NORTH TO RIVER
CAUVERY IN THE SOUTH , THE ARABIAN SEA IN WEST & BAY OF BENGAL
IN EAST.

21. THE SUCCESSORS OF KRISHNADEVA RAYA WERE WEAK.
KRISHNADEVA RAYA DIED ON 17 OCTOBER 1529. HIS DEATH MARKED THE
DECLINE OF VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE.
THE COMBINED FORCES OF AHMEDNAGARA , BIJAPUR, GOLKUNDA &
BIDAR DECLARED WAR ON VIJAYANAGARA DURING THE RULE OF ALIYA
RAMA RAYA.

22. WITH THE DEATH OF KRISHNADEVA RAYA
VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE CAME TO AN END.
THE RULERS OF THE ARAVIDU DYNASTY WERE WEAK
& INCOMPETENT
MANY PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS BECAME
INDEPENDENT
THE RULERS OF BIJAPUR & GOLCONDA SEIZED AREA
OF VIJAYANAGARA .