Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c5.1

c5.1

The true history of an empire does not consist in the " endless procession of kingdoms and despots," the court intrigues, the interminable wars waged by the kings and the suppression of the rebellious feudatories, but is to be found in its administrative and social development. The study of the administrative institutions of an empire, the daily activities of the people, their religious and social observances, their literary activities and artistic attainments, is at least as important as its political history. To lay stress on the importance of the social history of an empire does not mean, however, that it must be studied at the expense of its political history. A study of political history is important, for, as Vincent Smith remarks, " the more attractive story of Indian thought as expressed in religion and philosophy, literature, art and science cannot be written intelligibly unless it is built on the solid foundation of dynastic history which alone can furnish the indispensable chronological basis."¹