UPSC Prelims 2021 Question:

According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?

1. Wrestling
2. Astrology
3. Accounting
4. Soothsaying
   
   

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation:

• Fernao Nuniz was a Portuguese traveler, chronicler, and horse trader. He spent three years (1535-1537) in the capital of the Vijaynagara Empire and wrote in detail about his experiences in Vijayanagara Empire. In his writings, he has given detailed accounts of the polity, infrastructure, administration, society, etc, of that time.
  
  

• Nuniz while writing about society and especially about the status of women in the empire, mentioned that women in the Vijayanagara empire were experts in many professions. They were experts in games like wrestling. Women were well-educated in a variety of subjects like Astrology, Accounting, etc. He says soothsaying (women telling the future) was also practiced by women in society.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: History | Vijayanagara Empire