CDS 2014 (II)

Vijayanagara Historiography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Ruins of Vijayanagara at Hampi were discovered in 1800 by:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept For centuries after the Battle of Talikota, the 'City of Victory' remained a memory among locals. Its formal rediscovery for modern history began with the surveying efforts of the East India Company.

Explanation In 1800, Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and the first Surveyor General of India, 'discovered' the site of Hampi. He created the first official survey map by consulting local priests of the Virupaksha temple to identify the various structures.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Mackenzie’s work was the foundation for all later archaeological study of Vijayanagara.
Logic 2: While John Marshall (Option D) is famous for the Indus Valley, it was Mackenzie who focused on the Deccan ruins at the start of the 19th century.

Active Recall

Question

How did Mackenzie identify the ruins?

Answer

He relied on the oral traditions of the local priests and the surviving memories of the local community who still worshipped at the main temples.

Core Insight

The 'discovery' of Hampi was a crucial step in the British effort to map the historical and cultural landscape of the regions they were conquering.