Consider the following statements about the fortification at Vijayanagara.
A. There were seven lines of forts encircling the city.
B. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.
C. No mortar or cementing agent was employed in the construction.
D. Archaeology does not corroborate the above statements.
E. Stone blocks were wedge shaped.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A, B, C and E only
A. There were seven lines of forts encircling the city. Correct. Abdur Razzaq, the ambassador from Persia, was greatly impressed by the fortifications and mentioned seven lines of forts.
B. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests. Correct. The walls enclosed agricultural tracts too; Abdur Razzaq noted cultivated fields, gardens and houses between the first, second and third walls.
C. No mortar or cementing agent was employed in the construction. Correct. The massive masonry was built without any mortar or cementing agent.
D. Archaeology does not corroborate the above statements. Incorrect. The accounts of Abdur Razzaq and Paes have been corroborated by present-day archaeologists, who have also found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core.
E. Stone blocks were wedge shaped. Correct. The stone blocks were wedge shaped, which held them in place without mortar.
NCERT (2026-27): “3.2 Fortifications and roads … Before we examine the different parts of the city in detail let us look at what enclosed them all – the great fortress walls. Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in the fifteenth century, was greatly impressed by the fortifications, and mentioned seven lines of forts. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests. The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city. The massive masonry construction was slightly tapered. No mortar or cementing agent was employed anywhere in the construction. The stone blocks were wedge shaped, which held them in place, and the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble.… 3.2 Fortifications and roads … These statements have been corroborated by present-day archaeologists, who have also found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core. This tract was serviced by an elaborate canal system drawing water from the Tungabhadra.…” |