Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire
1336–1646
Extent of Vijayanagara Empire, 1446, 1520 CE
Capital		Vijayanagara
Languages		Kannada, Telugu
Religion		Hindu
Government		Monarchy
King
•	1336–1356	Harihara Raya I
•	1642–1646	Sriranga III
History
•	Established	1336
•	Earliest records	1343
•	Disestablished	1646
Currency		Vijayanagara coinage
Preceded by Succeeded by Hoysala Empire Kakatiya dynasty Madurai Sultanate Pandyan dynasty Reddy dynasty Kingdom of Mysore Nayakas of Keladi Thanjavur Nayak kingdom Madurai Nayak dynasty Nayakas of Chitradurga Adil Shahi dynasty Qutb Shahi dynasty Nayaks of Gingee
Today part of		India

The Vijayanagara Empire (also called Karnata Empire, and the Kingdom of Bisnegar by the Portuguese) was based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of Sangama Dynasty. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Islamic invasions by the end of the 13th century. It lasted until 1646, although its power declined after a major military defeat in 1565 by the Deccan sultanates. The empire is named after its capital city of Vijayanagara, whose ruins surround present day Hampi, now a World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India. The writings of medieval European travelers such as Domingo Paes, Fernão Nunes, and Niccolò Da Conti, and the literature in local languages provide crucial information about its history. Archaeological excavations at Vijayanagara have revealed the empire's power and wealth.

The empire's legacy includes many monuments spread over South India, the best known of which is the group at Hampi. The previous temple building traditions in South India came together in the Vijayanagara Architecture style. The mingling of all faiths and vernaculars inspired architectural innovation of Hindu temple construction, first in the Deccan and later in the Dravidian idioms using the local granite. Efficient administration and vigorous overseas trade brought new technologies such as water management systems for irrigation. The empire's patronage enabled fine arts and literature to reach new heights in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit, while Carnatic music evolved into its current form. The Vijayanagara Empire created an epoch in South Indian history that transcended regionalism by promoting Hinduism as a unifying factor.