State any two reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire.
1. The ruler of Vijayanagara was an ambitious and kept in a constant military preparation. Naturally several development works were neglected and Vijayanagara could not develop friendly relations with the Orissa and Deccan Sultanates.
2. The battle of Talikota was another major reason for decline of empire in which Vijayanagara Emperor’s forces were routed by the combined armies of Bijapur, Alimadnagar and Golconda. The victorious armies sacked the city of Vijayanagara. The city was totally abandoned within a few years.