Explanations:The use of artillery in the Indian subcontinent marked a significant technological advancement in warfare. The Bahamani kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire were two prominent medieval Indian states that engaged in numerous conflicts over the fertile Tungabhadra Doab region. The introduction of artillery in these battles changed the dynamics of warfare, providing a new dimension to military strategy and tactics.
The first statement asserts that artillery was used for the first time in the Indian subcontinent during the battle between the Bahamani kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire. This statement is correct. The introduction of artillery in the Indian subcontinent is attributed to the Bahamani Sultanate, which used it effectively against the Vijayanagara Empire. The use of artillery in this context was a significant milestone in the history of Indian warfare, marking the beginning of a new era of military technology.
The second statement claims that the struggle between the Bahamani kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire for the Tungabhadra Doab had no historical precedence. This statement is incorrect. The Tungabhadra Doab, a fertile region between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers, had been a contested area for centuries before the conflicts between the Bahamani kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire. The region was strategically important due to its agricultural wealth and its position as a buffer zone between different kingdoms. Earlier conflicts over this region involved various other kingdoms and dynasties, making the struggle for the Tungabhadra Doab a recurring theme in medieval Indian history.
Therefore, the correct answer is that only the first statement is correct. The use of artillery in the Indian subcontinent was indeed first introduced during the battle between the Bahamani kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire, while the struggle for the Tungabhadra Doab region had historical precedence, with earlier conflicts over the same territory.