Explanation: During the 14th century, the Delhi Sultanate, under the rule of Mohammad bin Tughlaq, was engaged in extensive military campaigns in the northwestern and central Asian regions. This period marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Deccan region of South India.
Mohammad bin Tughlaq, known for his ambitious and often controversial policies, was deeply involved in expanding the Delhi Sultanate's influence beyond the Indian subcontinent. His campaigns were aimed at consolidating his power and extending the Sultanate's control over new territories. However, these campaigns also left the Deccan region relatively unattended and vulnerable to the rise of new powers.
In this context, two significant kingdoms emerged in the Deccan region: the Vijaynagar Kingdom and the Bahmani Sultanate. The Vijaynagar Kingdom was founded by Harihara and Bukka in the early 14th century, around 1336. This kingdom was established as a response to the weakening control of the Delhi Sultanate over the southern regions. The Vijaynagar Kingdom quickly grew into a powerful empire, known for its cultural and economic prosperity, and it became a major force in South India.
Simultaneously, the Bahmani Sultanate was founded in 1347 by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah, who was a governor of the Delhi Sultanate. The Bahmani Sultanate was established in the western Deccan region and quickly expanded its influence over a large part of the Deccan plateau. The Bahmani Sultanate was known for its administrative innovations and its role in fostering a unique blend of Islamic and Hindu cultures.
Both the Vijaynagar Kingdom and the Bahmani Sultanate took advantage of the Delhi Sultanate's preoccupation with its northern campaigns to establish their own independent states. They capitalized on the power vacuum created by the Sultanate's reduced presence in the Deccan region, leading to the rise of these two significant kingdoms.
It is important to note that the rise of these kingdoms was not just a result of the Delhi Sultanate's absence but also due to the local political, economic, and social conditions that favored the establishment of new powers. The Vijaynagar and Bahmani kingdoms played crucial roles in shaping the political and cultural landscape of South India for centuries to come.
In conclusion, the correct answer is (B) Vijaynagar and Bahmani kingdom, as these two kingdoms rose to power during the period when Mohammad bin Tughlaq was busy with his campaigns in the north and central Asia, leaving the Deccan region relatively unattended and ripe for the establishment of new powers.