Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by Harihara-I and his brother Bukka Raya I of Sangama Dynasty.They made Hampi as the capital city.They served under Vira Ballala III, the Hoysala King.

Vijayanagar Empire was ruled by four important dynasties and they are:

1. Sangama
2. Saluva
3. Tuluva
4. Aravidu

Sangam Dynasty

• Founded by Harihara & Bukka

Saluva Dynasty

• Founded by Saluva Narsimha

Tuluva Dynasty

• Founded by Vir Narsimha

• Its Greatest Ruler was Krishanadeva Raya

Krishnadeva Raya  (1509-1529 A.D.)

• Krishnadeva Raya of the Tuluva dynasty was the most famous king of the Vijayanagar Empire
• According to Domingo Paes a Portuguese traveller “Krishnadeva Raya was the most feared and perfect king there could possibly be”.

Aravidu Dynasty

• Founded by Tirumala Deva Raya

The Glories of the Vijayanagar Empire

Administration

• Well-organized administrative system
• The king was head of all powers in the state.
• Council of Ministers – to assist the King in the work of administration.
• The Empire was divided into six Provinces.
• Naik – a Governor who administered each Province.
• The provinces were divided into districts and the districts were further divided into smaller units namely villages.
• The village was administered by hereditary officers like accountants, watchmen, the weightsmen, and officers in charge of forced labour.

The Army

• The army consisted of the infantry, cavalry and elephantry.
• The commander-in-chief was in charge of the army.

Revenue Administration

• Land revenue was the main source of income
• The land was carefully surveyed and taxes were collected based on the fertility of the soil.
• Major importance was given to agriculture and in building dams and canals.

Social life

• The society was systemized.
• Child marriage, polygamy and sati were prevalent.
• The kings allowed freedom of religion.

Economic conditions

• Controlled by their irrigational policies.
• Textiles, mining, metallurgy perfumery, and other several industries existed.
• They had commercial relations with, the islands in the Indian Ocean, Abyssinia, Arabia, Burma, China, Persia, Portugal , South Africa, and The Malay Archipelago.

Contribution to Architecture and Literature

• The Hazara Ramasami temple and Vittalaswamy temple was built during this period
• The bronze image of Krishnadeva Raya is a masterpiece.
• Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada literature were developed.
• Sayana wrote commentaries on Vedas.
• Krishnadevaraya wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu and Usha Parinayam and Jambavathi Kalyanam in Sanskrit.

Decline of the Empire

• The rulers of the Aravidu dynasty were weak and incompetent.
• Many provincial governors became independent.
• The rulers of Bijapur and Golconda seized some areas of Vijayanagar.