A historian reads an account by Fernao Nuniz which lists mutton, pork…

A historian reads an account by Fernao Nuniz which lists mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves and quail as being sold in the market of Bisnaga. Which city does Bisnaga refer to?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Vijayanagara

Option (1) Bijapur — Incorrect. Bijapur was the seat of a Deccan sultanate, a rival kingdom to the north of Vijayanagara.

Option (2) Vijayanagara — Correct. Bisnaga is the Portuguese form of the name <strong>Vijayanagara</strong>. Nuniz used it while describing how <strong>meat was sold in abundance</strong> in the city's markets.

Option (3) Golconda — Incorrect. Golconda was another Deccan sultanate, with its own rulers and capital.

Option (4) Ahmadnagar — Incorrect. Ahmadnagar was a Deccan sultanate too, with its own court and capital.

NCERT (2026-27): “6. Plotting Palaces, Temples and Bazaars …
More generally, he described the city as being “the bestprovided city in the world” with the markets “stocked with provisions such as rice, wheat, grains, India corn and a certain amount of barley and beans, moong, pulses and horse-gram” all of which were cheaply and abundantly available. According to Fernao Nuniz, the Vijayanagara markets were “overflowing with abundance of fruits, grapes and oranges, limes, pomegranates, jackfruit and mangoes and all very cheap”. Meat too was sold in abundance in the marketplaces. Nuniz describes “mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves, quail and all kinds of birds, sparrows, rats and cats and lizards” as being sold in the market of Bisnaga (Vijayanagara).”