Who among the following wrote on the Kingdom of Vijaynagara ? (i) Afanasy Nikitin (ii) Fernao Nuniz (iii) Nicolo Conti

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The Vijayanagara Empire, flourishing in South India from the 14th to the 16th century, attracted numerous foreign travelers whose accounts serve as invaluable primary sources for reconstructing the kingdom's history, society, and economy. **Nicolo Conti**, an Italian merchant and traveler, visited Vijayanagara around 1420 CE during the reign of Deva Raya I and left a detailed description of the city's grandeur and the customs of its people. **Afanasy Nikitin** was a Russian merchant who traveled to India in the 15th century (c. 1470-1474 CE) and, while his major focus was on the Bahmani Sultanate, his travelogue, *The Journey Beyond the Three Seas*, also includes descriptions and impressions of life in the Deccan region, which had constant interaction with Vijayanagara. **Fernao Nuniz**, a Portuguese horse trader and chronicler, visited the empire during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya (1530s CE). His detailed chronicle provides crucial insights into the political history, military organization, and especially the role of women in the kingdom, making all three figures significant chroniclers of the region during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire. Since all three men wrote accounts that provide historical information about or relevant to the kingdom, option (i), (ii) & (iii) is the correct choice.

The incorrect option is 1:
This option incorrectly excludes Nicolo Conti (iii). Conti's account, written in the early 15th century, is one of the earliest and most detailed European descriptions of the city and its administration, making him essential to the list.

The incorrect option is 2:
This option incorrectly excludes Afanasy Nikitin (i). Although Nikitin's account primarily focuses on the neighboring Bahmani kingdom, his geographical and political context includes the Vijayanagara region and its interactions, meaning he did write about the political landscape which encompassed Vijayanagara.

The incorrect option is 3:
This option incorrectly excludes Fernao Nuniz (ii). Nuniz’s lengthy and descriptive chronicle provides one of the most comprehensive historical narratives of the empire, particularly covering the reigns of Krishnadevaraya and Achyuta Deva Raya. Excluding him results in the omission of a major source on the kingdom's zenith.