Medieval Karnataka

The medieval Karnataka deals with the Chalukyas, Rahstrakutas, Western Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Gangas and the Vijaynagar empire. These kingdom as a whole constitute the medieval Karnataka or the medieval history of Karnataka, as we call it.

The medieval Karnataka starts with the emergence of the Hoysalas during the first millennium. During the reign of the Hoysalas, as the medieval Karnataka has it, art and architecture flourished tremendously in Karnataka. Throughout the entire region we find temples and structures adhering to the Vesara style of architecture that was prevalent at that point time.

Under the Hoysalas, the kingdom of Karnataka also included parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Subsequently, the Vijaynagar empire rose in Karnataka in the 14th century AD. The Vijaynagar empire was established by the joint efforts of Harihara I and Bukka Raya, who according to the medieval Karnataka were the commanders of the last Hoysala king, Veer Ballala III.

Further speaking about medieval Karnataka, it can be said that the Bahamani Sultans of Bidar were the actual competitors of the Vijaynagar kings. It is after the fall of the Vijaynagar kingdom in the Battle of Talikota in 1565, that the Bijapur Sultanate under the Sultans of Bahamani, rose to power.

It was under the rule of the Bijapur Sultanate and the Bahamani rulers that the Urdu and Persian flourished in the kingdom of Karnataka. During this period, as the medieval history of Karnataka maintains, Indo-Saracenic architecture also flourished in the realms of the kingdom; the Gol Gumbaz is one of the best example of the Indo-Saracenic architecture.

Ultimately, the medieval Karnataka culminates into modern Karnataka with the influx of the Mughals in the political scenario of Karnataka