Which Bahmani Sultan was honored with the title "Second Aristotle" due to his intellectual and administrative abilities?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Muhammad Shah II.
Explanation:
☛ Muhammad Shah II (reigned 1378–1397 CE) was the fifth Sultan of the Bahmani Kingdom.
☛ Unlike his predecessors, he was a peace-loving monarch who focused on intellectual growth, justice, and culture rather than aggressive military campaigns.
☛ Due to his profound scholarship, passion for philosophy, and wise administration, his subjects and contemporaries honored him with the title "Second Aristotle" (Arastu-i-Sani).
☛ He established free residential schools for orphans and underprivileged students in major cities like Gulbarga, Bidar, and Kandhar.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Alauddin Bahman Shah: Born as Hasan Gangu, he founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347 CE and established his capital at Gulbarga.
☛ Firoz Shah Bahmani: He ruled from 1397 to 1422 CE, built an astronomical observatory at Daulatabad, and founded the city of Firozabad on the banks of the Bhima River.
☛ Mahmud Gawan: He served as the celebrated Prime Minister (Khwaja-i-Jahan) under Muhammad Shah III and constructed the magnificent three-story Madrasa at Bidar in 1472 CE.
☛ The Bahmani Sultanate was the first independent Muslim kingdom established in the Deccan region of South India.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who was the founder of the Bahmani Sultanate? → Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (Hasan Gangu)
☛ Which world-renowned Persian poet was invited by Muhammad Shah II to his court? → Khwaja Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz Shirazi
☛ Which Bahmani ruler transferred the royal capital from Gulbarga to Bidar? → Ahmad Shah Wali (in 1424 CE)
☛ In which city is the famous Mahmud Gawan Madrasa located? → Bidar (Karnataka)
☛ Into how many independent sultanates did the Bahmani Empire eventually fragment? → Five (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar, and Berar)