Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c9.s5.78

v1.c9.s5.78

And, finally, there were the foreign traders, whose contribution to the material wealth of the capital was indeed great. According to Paes it seems as if the city of Vijayanagara was the meeting-place of the traders of the world. "In this city you will find men belonging to every nation and people, because of the great trade which it has, and the many precious stones there, principally diamonds".¹ Barbosa also bears witness to the cosmopolitan nature of the citizens of Vijayanagara: "They (i.e., the wide streets and squares) are constantly filled with an innumerable crowd of all nations and creeds; for, besides many Moorish merchants and traders, and the Gentile inhabitants of the country who are very rich, an infinite number of others flock there from all parts, who are able to come, dwell, trade, and live very freely and in security. . . ."²