Q. According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?
- Wrestling
- Astrology
- Accounting
- Soothsaying
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (UPSC Prelims 2021)
Answer:
1, 2, 3 and 4
Notes: The correct answer is
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4. Fernão Nuniz, a Portuguese horse trader and chronicler who visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya (16th century), provided detailed accounts of the social life and the status of women in the empire.
- Diverse Roles (Statements 1, 2, 3, and 4 – Correct): Nuniz noted that women held significant positions in the royal court and were highly educated and skilled in various professional fields.
- Wrestling: Women were trained in physical combat and wrestling to serve as bodyguards and entertainers for the king.
- Astrology and Soothsaying: Women were experts in predicting the future and interpreting celestial alignments, often advising the court on auspicious timings.
- Accounting: They were employed as clerks and accountants within the palace administration to keep records of expenditures and royal affairs.
- Other Skills: Nuniz also mentioned that women were proficient in music, dance, and even sword-fighting. Some were appointed as judges and bailiffs, highlighting a level of female participation in administrative and legal affairs that was quite advanced for the period.
The accounts of Nuniz, along with those of Domingo Paes, offer a vivid picture of the "Forgotten Empire," emphasizing that women in Vijayanagara were not confined to domestic spheres but were integral to the state's military, intellectual, and administrative machinery.