In a London museum, a visitor stops before a copy of an oil painting dated to about 1825. It shows Colin Mackenzie, a surveyor of the English East India Company, with three Indian helpers. A panel beside it explains that the empire Mackenzie studied was founded in 1336 by two brothers and held much of the south for over two centuries. Its kings fought rival states of their own time for fertile river valleys and for the wealth of overseas trade. Both sides also borrowed ideas from one another in building. The visitor wants to learn more about this empire.
Which contemporary powers did the kings of this empire compete with for these river valleys and trade?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The Sultans of the Deccan and the Gajapati rulers of Orissa
Option (1) The Cholas of Tamil Nadu and the Hoysalas of Karnataka — Incorrect. The Cholas and the Hoysalas were earlier powerful states in areas that later came within the empire. They belong to the time before Vijayanagara.
Option (2) The Portuguese of Goa and the Mughals of Agra — Incorrect. The Portuguese arrived on the west coast only from 1498 as traders with muskets. They became players in the politics of the period, but had no part in the fight for these river valleys.
Option (3) The Sultans of the Deccan and the Gajapati rulers of Orissa — Correct. On their northern frontier, the Vijayanagara kings competed with the Sultans of the Deccan and the Gajapati rulers of Orissa for fertile river valleys and the income from overseas trade.
Option (4) The Kakatiyas of Warangal and the Pandyas of Madurai — Incorrect. The Kakatiyas and the Pandyas were older southern dynasties. They had no part in this rivalry over the river valleys.
NCERT (2026-27): “2. Rayas Nayakas and Sultans “On their northern frontier, the Vijayanagara kings competed with contemporary rulers – including the Sultans of the Deccan and the Gajapati rulers of Orissa – for control of the fertile river valleys and the resources generated by lucrative overseas trade. At the same time, interaction between these states led to sharing of ideas, especially in the field of architecture. The rulers of Vijayanagara borrowed concepts and building techniques which they then developed further.” |