Explain the social and economic conditions of Vijayanagara.

The social and economic conditions of Vijayanagara were as follows:
Social Condition:

(i)    Respect for Brahmans : The Brahmanas were greatly respected in the state of Vijayanagara. They attained a supreme position in the state. Even when they committed a crime, they were not given the punishment of death. They led a pious life. They were vegetarian. They never touched meat and wine. They were an ideal and role model for others.

(ii)    Place of Women : The women were given a lot of respect in Vijayanagara. They could get even higher education. They had no purdah system. They were also educated in warfare and fine arts.

(iii)    Several malpractices were existed : The society of Vijayanagara had many malpractices. The animals were sacrificed to please gods and goddesses. The practice of sati was very popular in the society. Even the Telugu women were buried alive after the deaths of their husbands. Besides there was an evil of prostitution. Deva Raya II had twelve thousand queens. He had married three thousand queens on the condition that they would perform sati after his death.

Economic Condition : The economic condition of Vijayanagara was prosperous. Its land was fertile. So there was enough trading activity. The rulers of Vijayanagara had good relations with the Portuguese. There was a trading of Arabian horses. The sea-coasts of Vijayanagara had many ports. Calicut was a famous sea-port during those days. It was used to trade with Burma, China,. Iran, Arabia, Portugal and South Africa. It was used to export cloth, rice, sugar, iron and spices. It imported horses, elephants, copper, silk and diamond jewellery. The merchants had established their trade centres. There was a currency of gold and silver. It facilitated exchange of goods. Besides the trade, there was a great progress in industry and agriculture. The main occupation of the people was weaving cloth, mining of minerals and to prepare metal goods.