NCERT solutions for Themes In Indian History Part I, II, and III [English] Class 12 chapter 7 - An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara [Latest edition]

1. How has the artist portrayed Mackenzie and his indigenous informers?
2. What ideas about him and his informants are sought to be impressed upon the viewers?

1. Why do you think the king was interested in encouraging trade?
2. Which groups of people would have benefited from these transactions?

Identify the present-day states that formed part of the empire.

Locate Chandragiri, Madurai, Ikkeri, Thanjavur and Mysore, all centres of nayaka power, on the map of South India. Discuss the ways in which rivers and hills may have facilitated or hindered communication with Vijayanagara in each case.

Identify three major zones on the plan. Look at the central part. Can you see channels connecting up with the river? See how many fortification walls you can trace. Was the sacred centre fortified?

1. Would you find these features in a city today?
2. Why do you think the gardens and water bodies were selected for special mention by Paes?

Describe the similarities and differences between these two entrances. Why do you think the rulers of Vijayanagara adopted elements of Indo-Islamic architecture?

What kinds of vessels do you think these shards were originally parts of?

Does the mosque have the typical features of Indo-Islamic architecture?

Compare the layout of Vijayanagara with that of your town or village.

Can you identify the themes of the carvings?

Compare the photograph of Lotus Mahal and the elevation drawing of Lotus Mahal, and make a list of the features that are common to both, as well as those that can be seen in only one. Also compare the arch in the detailed arch of Lotus Mahal with the arch in the fortified city gateway arch. The Lotus Mahal had nine towers – a high central one, and eight along the sides. How many can you see in the photograph and how many in the elevation? If you had to rename the Lotus Mahal, what would you call it?

Compare the photograph of the elephant stables and the plan of a single chamber in the stables with the elevation drawing of the elephant stables, making a list of features visible in each one. Do you think these were actually elephant stables?

Can you identify scenes of dancing? Why do you think elephants and horses were depicted on the panels?

Why did the nayakas continue with the building traditions of the rulers of Vijayanagara?

Using the scale in the plan, measure the distance from the main gopuram to the central shrine. What would have been the easiest access from the tank to the shrine?

Describe what you see on the pillar.

Do you think chariots would have actually been built like this?

How and why did the rulers of Vijayanagara adopt and adapt earlier traditions of ritual architecture?

Which is the letter of the alphabet that was not used? Using the scale in the map, measure the length of any one of the small squares.

What is the scale used on this map?

Identify a temple. Look for walls, a central shrine, and traces of paths leading to the temple. Name the squares on the map which contain the plan of the temple.

Identify the gopuram, halls, colonnades and central shrine. Which areas would you pass through to reach the central shrine from the outer entrance?

Answer In 100-150 words

What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?

Answer In 100-150 words

How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?

What do you think were the advantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?

What do you think were the disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?

Answer In 100-150 words

What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the mahanavami dibba?

Answer In 100-150 words

The following figure is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral motifs? What are the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human figures shown.

Write a Short Essay (About 250-300 Words) on the Following:

Discuss whether the term “royal centre” is an appropriate description for the part of the city for which it is used.

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What does the architecture of buildings like the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us about the rulers who commissioned them?

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What are the architectural traditions that inspired the architects of Vijayanagara? How did they transform these traditions?

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What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara can you cull from the various descriptions in the chapter?

Map work

On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia. Trace the routes the travellers mentioned on  would have taken to reach Vijayanagara.

Find out more about any one of the major cities which flourished in the subcontinent during c. fourteenth-seventeenth centuries. Describe the architecture of the city. Are there any features to suggest that these were political centres? Are there buildings that were ritually significant? Is there an area for commercial activities? What are the features that distinguish the urban layout from that of surrounding areas?

Visit a religious building in your neighbourhood. Describe, with sketches, its roof, pillars and arches, if any, corridors, passages, halls, entrance, water supply, etc. Compare these features with those of the Virupaksha temple. Describe what each part of the building is used for. Find out about its history.