Vijayanagara and Mughal Empires

• In 1336 CE a great empire emerged in southern India.
• The empire covered large parts of modern-day Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu
• Vijayanagara was the name given to both the empire and the city that was its capital
• According to oral and epigraphic traditions, Vijayanagar was founded by brothers Bukka and Harihara
• The brothers were blessed by the medieval saint Vidyaranya.
• Vijayanagara was ruled by different dynasties at different times
• The Mughal empire was founded in the 16th century CE in north India
• The empire founded by Chaghtai Turks from Farghana
• The Chaghtai Turks claimed descent from Timur, the ruler of Iran, Iraq and Türkiye
• as well as Chenghiz Khan, the ruler of the Mongol tribes of Central Asia and China.

Important Rulers of Vijayanagara

• Harihara II
• Saluva Narasimha
• Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529 CE)
• Tirumala
• Venkata II

Important Mughal Rulers

• Babur
• Humayun
• Akbar (1556-1605 CE)
• Jahangir
• Shah Jahan
• Aurangzeb

State Policies of Krishnadevaraya

• Vijayanagara kings claimed to be Hindu sultans or 'Hindu Suratrana'
• They asserted that they ruled on behalf of the god Virupaksha
• All royal orders were signed as 'Shri Virupaksha'
• Strict adherence to 'Dharma' was a distinguishing feature.
• The king ruled with absolute authority and was thought to have a divine right to rule
• the king was assisted by ministers, officials and military commanders known as nayakas.
• Through grand celebrations and pujas the kings established power, authority and sovereignty

Appointment of Brahmanas to High Positions

• Brahmanas were given political, administrative and military responsibilities in addition to ritual roles
• This helped them in legitimising their power.
• The founders of the Vijayanagara empire claimed to be brahmanas
• Brahmanas were appointed as dannaiks or in-charges of important forts
• Brahmanas were appointed as administrators and accountants.
• They were given revenue from villages under crown control.
• Vijayanagara rulers constructed and renovated temples and gave patronage to various sects
• Krishnadevaraya constructed the Krishna Temple, added gopurams and constructed tanks

State Policies of Akbar

• The Mughal emperor had absolute power and all decisions were carried out in his name
• The emperor was the commander-in-chief of the army and chief authority in all matters of justice.
• Nobles and officers owed their position to the emperor.

Organised Governance of the Empire

• The empire was divided into subas, headed by a subadar
• The subadar was aided by a diwan, bakshi, kotwal, sadr cum Qazi and mir.
• Subas were subdivided into sarkars where the faujdar looked after law and order and amalguzar supervised land revenue
• Sarkars were divided into parganas
• Shiqdars, muqaddams, and patwaris were responsible for records, revenue and maintenance of law and order.

Policy Towards the Rajputs Aimed at Consolidating the Empire and Preventing Rebellions

• Akbar followed a policy of matrimonial alliance with the Rajputs.
• The Mughal army assigned high posts to Rajput chiefs
• He did not annex Rajput kingdoms that accepted his suzerainty and paid tributes
• He abolished jizya and pilgrimage tax
• Akbar believed in the policy of sulh-i kul which means 'universal peace'
• Akbar established a system of governance around sulh-i kul.
• He abolished almost all taxes on non-Muslims.
• He inducted Hindus into the nobility.

Religious Policy Guided by Enthusiasm to Unite the Entire Empire

• A great change came in the religious policy of Akbar in 1581 CE with Din-i Ilahi
• Din-i Ilahi combined the best features of all the religions in a grand synthesis
• Din-i Ilahi laid emphasis on moral values
• Akbar built a Hall of Prayer at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 CE called Ibadat Khana
• Akbar held discussions on religious and spiritual themes, inviting scholars from various religions

Approach towards Common People

• Akbar instituted jharokha darshan, where he appeared in front of the people on a balcony.
• He took part in diwan-i-am sessions and met and spoke to the common people.

Miniature Paintings from the Akbarnama on Akbar's Relationship with his Regent Bairam Khan

• A painting shows young Akbar hawking with Bairam Khan
• Bairam Khan rebelled, and then submitted to Akbar after his defeat.
• Akbar allowed Bairam's son to return and he became one of the navratnas in Akbar's court
• Akbar gave Bairam the option of going to Mecca
• but Bairam was assassinated on the way

Social Structures under Krishnadevaraya

• The king was the centre of the state and society
• King was the guardian of society
• Brahmanas and Nayakas made up much of the ruling class, enjoying great prestige
• Some nayakas became autonomous and gained status
• Merchants and Craftspersons formed guilds
• Increase in trade stimulated craft production
• There were various types of peasantry, from large landholders to labourers
• Women would have contributed significantly to agricultural and non-agricultural activities.
• Vijayanagara society was the dual division of lower castes into Valangai (right hand) and Idangai (left hand) groups
• right hand castes were mainly involved in agricultural production
• The Idangai group comprised people primarily engaged in artisanal production or trade

Social Structures under Akbar

• At the centre of the Mughal state was the emperor
• Nobles had lavish lifestyles with jagirs and salaries
• Artisans ranged from craftsmen to village potters
• There was a prosperous merchant community engaged in internal and external trade.
• At one end of the spectrum were zamindars and village headmen
• At the other end were the landless labourers.
• Physicians, teachers, lawyers, painters and architects
• Royal and noble women had access to power and religious freedom, participating in government and commercial transactions
• Women contributed significantly to agricultural and non-agricultural production.
• Women in merchant families participated in commercial activities

Economic Activities during Krishnadevaraya's Reige

• Agriculture flourished and was the basis of wealth
• Krishnadevaraya's encouragement to foreign trade increased the volume of trade
• Contemporary travellers described flourishing trade and markets
• There were 300 seaports.
• Stocked with horses, precious stones, spices, pearls and jewellery
• Specialisation among merchants
• Temples were centres of economic activities, banking, trading, employment and irrigation

Economic Activities during Akbar's Reign

• Agriculture remained the important activity and land revenue, the important source of korisme .
• There were sharecroppers and labourers
• Tax minister Todar Mal designed the land revenue system
• Crop survey over a 10-year period.
• A tax was fixed for each crop in cash
• Each province was divided into revenue circles.
• The Mughal army state workshops
• Craft production, particularly in luxury goods flourished.