Vijayanagar Empire

• During the mid-14th century, when the forces of disintegration were active in the northern India, two kingdoms in the South provided a long spell of stable government. These were the Vijayanagar and Bahmani Kingdoms.
  
  • The rise of these kingdoms started during the reign of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq when there were rebellions in many parts of the Sultanate. Taking advantage of the weak Central administration, these two Empires declared their independence from the Delhi Sultanate.
• Although these kingdoms constantly fought with each other, they maintained law and order within their territories, and on the whole provided stable governments which enabled the growth of trade and commerce. Many of the rulers devoted themselves to the growth of agriculture, and built cities and capitals with magnificent buildings. Many of them were also patrons of art and culture.
• Thus, in contrast to north India, two large territorial states emerged and functioned in south India from the middle of the 14th century onwards. A new situation arose with the break up of the Bahmanid kingdom towards the end of the 15th century, and the disintegration of the Vijayanagar empire later, following its defeat at the battle of Talikota in 1565.
• This was also the period when a European power, the Portuguese, entered the Asian scene, and tried on the basis of its naval strength to establish its domination over the seas and its bordering areas and to capture the overseas trade.