The Vijayanagar Empire Chronicles Of Paes And Nuniz: Narrative Of Domingos Paes (Written, Probably A. D. 1520-22)

About the Book :- Domingo Paes and Fernão Nunes were two Portuguese Chroniclers who visited India’s ancient city Vijayanagar and wrote down accounts of what they experienced, saw and observed. Domingos Paes wrote his account from the period of 1520-22. His visit took place during the rule of King Krishna Deva Raya. He reports advanced irrigation technology that allowed the kingdom to produce high yields of crops at very reasonable prices, and a wide variety of cultures. He describes a busy market of precious stones. The city was prospering and its size, in the eyes of the narrator, was comparable to Rome, with abundant vegetation, aqueducts and artificial lakes. Fernão Nunes visited Vijayanagara Empire in the time period of 1535-1537. His writings have brought to light many interesting details about Vijayanagara at that time, including construction of massive fortification works, watch towers and security walls. Needlessly to say that it’s a good book on the historical perspective. Vijayanagar gets rather neglected in the history of India which mostly concentrates on the Moghuls. Indians in the Medieval and Renaissance periods did not really write their own history, it’s mainly a European genre. So to have the reports of two European travellers to the Hindu kingdom is really valuable. Moreover, if you want to understand modern day India and particularly with Pakistan then a knowledge of how the Hindus were under Moslem pressure and often conquest is essential. This is also good to be reminded how old and how persistent Indian culture is.

Edizione: 1900