Vijayanagara and Bahmani KingdomsVijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms

The Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by four successive dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu.

• Sangama Dynasty: Founded by Harihara I and Bukka I. Bukka I assumed the title 'Eastern, Western and Southern Ocean Emperor'.
• Tuluva Dynasty: Founded by Vira Narasimha. Its greatest ruler was Krishnadevaraya, who authored 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu.
• Aravidu Dynasty: Founded by Tirumala after the Battle of Talikota, operating from Penukonda and later Chandragiri.
• Bahmani Sultanate Splitting: The Bahmani kingdom broke into five successor states: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda, Berar, and Bidar.

The administrative machinery of Vijayanagara was highly organized, featuring the Nayankara system and Ayagar system.

• Nayankara System: Military chiefs called Nayaks were granted land (Amaram) in exchange for maintaining troops and paying tribute to the king.
• Ayagar System: Village administration was managed by a body of 12 hereditary functionaries known as Ayagars.
• Land Revenue: The standard land tax was normally one-sixth of the produce, varying according to the fertility of the soil.
• Position of Women: Women held high positions in royal courts, excelled in wrestling, astrology, accounting, and music, though social evils like sati existed.

Numerous foreign travelers visited the Vijayanagara Empire and left valuable accounts detailing its immense wealth and splendor.

• Nicolo Conti: An Italian traveler who visited Vijayanagara during the reign of Devaraya I around 1420 AD.
• Abdul Razzaq: Ambassador of Shah Rukh of Persia, visited during Devaraya II's reign and noted that 'the eye has not seen nor ear heard of any place like it'.
• Domingo Paes: Portuguese traveler who visited during Krishnadevaraya's reign, praising the city's size and bustling markets.
• Fernao Nuniz: Portuguese horse merchant and chronicler who visited during the later period of the empire and wrote a history of the dynasties.

Vijayanagara rulers contributed immensely to Dravidian architecture, introducing distinctive features like tall Raya Gopurams and Mandapas.

• Hampi Monuments: The capital city Hampi on the Tungabhadra river contains the Vitthalaswami temple, Hazara Rama temple, and Lotus Mahal.
• Musical Pillars: The Vitthalaswami temple is renowned for its 56 musical pillars that produce sa-re-ga-ma notes when tapped.
• Ashtadiggajas: Krishnadevaraya's court was adorned by eight eminent Telugu literary scholars known as Ashtadiggajas, led by Allasani Peddana.