Why do you think Vijayanagara incorporated agricultural tracts within the fortified area ?

The rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire adopted a unique strategy of incorporating agricultural tracts, forests, and gardens within their fortified city walls. This feature was famously documented by the Persian traveler Abdur Razzaq, who noted seven lines of fortifications encompassing the city.

The primary objective of this design was strategic defense. During medieval warfare, invading armies often laid long sieges to cities to starve the population into submission by cutting off external food supplies. By enclosing cultivated fields, gardens, and granaries within the fort walls, the defenders ensured a continuous food supply. This allowed the city to withstand prolonged sieges, which could last for months or even years, without being forced to surrender due to hunger. While the state also managed irrigation systems, the specific reason for fortifying these tracts was to counter enemy siege tactics.