Vijayanagar was one of the wealthiest kingdoms in the 15th and 16th centuries ce. The development of agriculture and the promotion of trade and commerce enriched the treasury. The two main sources of revenue were taxes on land and trade. The land tax varied from one third to one sixth of the produce, depending on the quality of the land, which was assessed before the tax was levied. Forests were cleared and more land was brought under cultivation. Irrigation tanks, canals and dams were built. Flourishing trade enriched the kingdom. The market overflowed with foreign imports such as Arabian horses, Chinese silks and Sri Lankan elephants. The main items of export were cotton cloth, sandalwood, rice, sugar and spices.
