According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas? 1. Wrestling 2. Astrology 3. Accounting 4. Soothsaying Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Contents15
- A1, 2 and 3 only
- B1, 3 and 4 only
- C2 and 4 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
According to Fernao Nuniz, a Portuguese traveller who visited during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya, women in the Vijayanagara Empire held diverse roles in the royal palaces.
Besides being dancers, servants, and palanquin bearers, women were:
- wrestlers
- astrologers
- accountants
- soothsayers
Some were even appointed as judges, bailiffs, and watchwomen.
All four options are correct.
Answer: (d).
Portuguese accounts by Nuniz and other foreign travelers are primary sources for understanding the social and economic life of the Vijayanagara Empire, particularly the diverse roles of women in society.
UPSC is testing whether students understand that medieval Indian women, especially in South Indian kingdoms, had much broader professional roles than commonly assumed - including in administration, commerce, and intellectual pursuits.
Fernão Nuniz & Portuguese Accounts
Ancient And Medieval History Portuguese writer Nuniz Nuniz
Fernão Nuniz: Portuguese Chronicle of Vijayanagara Empire
Fernão Nuniz was a Portuguese traveler who visited Vijayanagara during Achyuta Deva Raya's reign (1529-1542)
His chronicle provides detailed accounts of women's roles in Vijayanagara society
Nuniz documented women as wrestlers, astrologers, accountants, and soothsayers
Portuguese accounts are key primary sources for understanding Vijayanagara's social structure
Historical Context
Fernão Nuniz was a Portuguese horse trader who lived in Vijayanagara during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya (1529-1542). His detailed chronicle provides one of the most comprehensive foreign accounts of the empire's society, economy, and administrative system.
Key Observations by Nuniz
Women's diverse roles: Beyond traditional roles, women served as wrestlers, astrologers, accountants, and soothsayers in royal palaces
Administrative positions: Women were appointed as judges, bailiffs, and watchwomen
Economic activities: Detailed descriptions of markets, trade, and revenue systems
Royal court: Extensive accounts of palace life, ceremonies, and governance structure
Military organization: Observations on army composition and fortification systems
Trap: Confusing Nuniz with Domingo Paes — both were Portuguese, but Paes visited earlier during Krishnadeva Raya's reign
Trap: Assuming women only had traditional roles in medieval Indian kingdoms — Vijayanagara had progressive women's participation
Trap: Mixing up Portuguese accounts with Ibn Battuta (Moroccan) or Niccolò de' Conti (Italian)
Women in Vijayanagara Empire
Ancient And Medieval History women in Vijayanagara Empire
Women's Roles & Status in Vijayanagara Empire
Women in Vijayanagara held diverse professional roles beyond traditional domestic duties
They worked as wrestlers, astrologers, accountants, and soothsayers in royal palaces
Some women held administrative positions as judges, bailiffs, and watchwomen
This reflects a relatively progressive approach to women's participation in society
Progressive Women's Participation
Unlike many contemporary medieval kingdoms, the Vijayanagara Empire allowed women significant participation in professional and administrative roles. Portuguese accounts particularly highlight their presence in royal courts and specialized professions.
Women's Professional Roles
Role Category | Specific Positions | Context | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
Physical/Athletic | Wrestlers | Royal palaces | Challenged gender stereotypes |
Intellectual | Astrologers, Accountants | Court appointments | Required specialized knowledge |
Spiritual | Soothsayers | Religious/advisory roles | Held positions of influence |
Administrative | Judges, Bailiffs, Watchwomen | Government positions | Formal authority roles |
Service | Dancers, Servants, Palanquin bearers | Palace staff | Traditional roles also continued |
Historical Significance
Social mobility: Women could access professional roles based on skills, not just birth
Economic participation: Active involvement in accounting and administrative functions
Judicial roles: Some women served as judges, indicating trust in their decision-making
Cultural impact: Wrestling and performance arts showed physical empowerment
Religious authority: Soothsaying roles gave women spiritual influence in society
Trap: Assuming all four options (wrestling, astrology, accounting, soothsaying) are correct — this question tests if you know Nuniz's specific observations
Trap: Thinking women in medieval India had only domestic roles — Vijayanagara was notably progressive
Trap: Confusing Vijayanagara women's status with other contemporary kingdoms where women had more restricted roles
Portuguese Travelers in Medieval India
Ancient And Medieval History
Portuguese Travelers & Their Accounts of Medieval India
Portuguese were among the first Europeans to establish sustained contact with Indian kingdoms
Key travelers include Domingo Paes, Fernão Nuniz, and Barbosa
Their accounts provide primary source material for understanding medieval Indian society
Historical Context
The Portuguese arrived in India in 1498 with Vasco da Gama and established trading posts along the coast. Several Portuguese traders and officials documented their experiences in Indian kingdoms, providing valuable foreign perspectives on medieval Indian society.
Major Portuguese Chroniclers
Traveler | Period | Ruler Met | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
Domingo Paes | 1520-1522 | Krishnadeva Raya | Detailed account of Vijayanagara's golden period |
Fernão Nuniz | 1535-1537 | Achyuta Deva Raya | Social customs, women's roles, administration |
Duarte Barbosa | 1500-1516 | Multiple rulers | Coastal regions, trade, social practices |
Afonso de Albuquerque | 1509-1515 | Various | Military campaigns, political alliances |
Value of Portuguese Accounts
Objective perspective: Foreign observers provided unbiased views of Indian society
Social details: Documented customs, festivals, and daily life rarely found in official records
Economic insights: Trade practices, currency systems, and market operations
Comparative analysis: Helped contrast Indian kingdoms with European societies
Administrative structure: Detailed observations of governance and court procedures
Trap: Mixing up Domingo Paes (Krishnadeva Raya period) with Fernão Nuniz (Achyuta Deva Raya period)
Trap: Confusing Portuguese accounts with Ibn Battuta (Moroccan, 14th century) or Al-Biruni (Persian, 11th century)
Trap: Assuming all European travelers visited the same time period — they span different reigns and centuries
Vijayanagara Social Structure
Ancient And Medieval History
Social Organization & Cultural Life in Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara society was hierarchical but allowed significant social mobility
Brahmins held high status, but merchants and artisans also gained prominence
Women's participation in various professions was notably progressive
The empire promoted religious tolerance and cultural diversity
Social Organization
The Vijayanagara Empire maintained a complex social hierarchy while allowing considerable mobility based on merit and skills. Unlike rigid caste systems elsewhere, the empire showed flexibility in professional roles and administrative appointments.
Social Structure
# Vijayanagara Society
## **Upper Classes**
- Royal family
- Nobles (Nayakas)
- Brahmins
- Court officials
## **Middle Classes**
- Merchants
- Skilled artisans
- Temple priests
- Military officers
## **Working Classes**
- Farmers
- Laborers
- Servants
- Craftsmen
## **Women's Roles**
- Professional roles
- Administrative positions
- Religious functions
- Economic activitiesCultural Characteristics
Religious tolerance: Hindu-Muslim cultural synthesis, patronage to all communities
Educational emphasis: Support for Sanskrit learning and regional literature
Artistic patronage: Temple architecture, sculpture, music, and dance flourished
Economic prosperity: Trade guilds, merchant communities gained social status
Military culture: Warrior ethos, but with emphasis on administration and governance
Trap: Assuming Vijayanagara was purely Hindu — it had significant Muslim influence and officials
Trap: Thinking medieval Indian society was uniformly rigid — Vijayanagara showed considerable social flexibility
Trap: Confusing Vijayanagara's progressive policies with more conservative contemporary kingdoms