Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
The Vijaynagar (Vijayanagar) Kingdom
After the departure of Muhammad bin Tughlak from the Deccan, Harihara
declared independence. He and his brother Bukka I under the guidance of famous
Hindu saint and the head of Sringeri Math, Vidyaranyasvami, who is also
identified with the distinguished jurist Madhav Mantri, established the mighty
Hindu Kingdom of Vijaynagar (the City of Victory) in 1336 AD. Vijaynagar
illuminated the landscape of Deccan History for 229 years (1336-1565 AD). By
1347 AD, Malerajya and Palasige of the Goa Kadambas were incorporated into the
Vijaynagar Empire. Goa formed a strategically and commercially important
province on the western border of the Vijaynagar Empire.
Hampi - The Capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom
The first settlement in Hampi dates back to 1st century AD and a number of
Buddhist sites belonging to that time have been found nearby. Hampi was the
capital of the mighty Vijaynagar Empire. Vijaynagar was one of the largest Hindu
empires in India. Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) was the greatest ruler and
controlled almost all of peninsular India south of Tungabhadra River. The town
of Hampi in 14th century had a population of half a million people. Seven
concentric lines of fortifications protected the city. It maintained a huge army
to protects it from other kingdoms. The Vijaynagar Empire flourished, as it
controlled both cotton and spice trade routes of southern India. Medieval
historians refer to Hampi as an important center of trade. However, the glory of
Vijaynagar was short lived. With the death of Krishnadevaraya, the combined
armies of the five Muslim kingdoms-Bidar, Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and
Berar-destroyed this mighty empire in 1565.
Vijaynagar Coinage
In the South, the Vijayanagar contemporaries of the Delhi Sultanate and
Mughals, were the other dynasty whose currency presents a rare example of a
standardised issue which later provided a model for the European and English
trading companies. The Vijayanagar period saw the advent of European traders
especially the Portuguese. Krishnadevaraya encouraged foreign trade and this
necessitated wider use of currency. Coins of the Vijayanagar kingdom was largely
struck in gold and copper. Most Vijayanagar gold coins bore a sacred image on
the obverse and the royal legend on the reverse. Amongst the significant gold
coins of the Vijayanagar Empire were those bearing the image of the deity of
Tirupati, i.e., Lord Venkatesvara represented either singly or with his two
consorts. These coins inspired the 'Single Swami' Pagodas of the Dutch and
French and the 'Three Swami' Pagodas of the English East India Company.
