MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 5 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

The central point in Ashoka’s Dhamma are all the given options. The Ashoka’s dhamma was not only the philosophical teaching of Buddha, but it also contained the idea of humanism, the universal brotherhood and Ahimsa. Ashoka’s pillar edicts gives the concept of his Dhamma. He had also appointed Dhamma Mahamatra to check out law and order in his kingdom.

The correct answer is Tomb of Queen Avanti Bai - Gwalior

The Correct answer is 1 only.

Important Points

• The administrative machinery of the Aryans in the Rig Vedic period functioned with the tribal chief, for his successful leadership in war, at the centre. He was called Rajan. It seems that in the Rig Vedic period, the king‘s post had become hereditary. However, the Rajan was a kind of chief and did not exercise unlimited power, having to reckon with the tribal organizations.
• There are traces of the election of the king by the tribal assembly called the Samiti. The king was called the protector of his tribe. He protected its cattle, fought its wars, and offered prayers to the gods on its behalf.
  • Hence the statement 1 is correct.
• Several tribal or kin-based assemblies such as the sabha, Samiti, Vidatha, and Gana are mentioned in the Rig Veda. They exercised deliberative, military, and religious functions. Even women attended the sabha and Vidatha in Rig Vedic times.
• The king did not maintain any standing army, but in times of war, he mustered a militia whose military functions were performed by various tribal groups called Vrata, Gana, grama, Sardha. By and large, it was a tribal system of government in which the military element was strong.
  • Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Humayun (1530-1540):

• His main rival was Sher Shah Suri, a ruler of Awadh.
• He fought 2 battles with Sher Shah Suri namely:
  • Battle of Chausa,1539 and
  • Battle of Bilgram,1540: Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun. Humayun lost the kingdom. The battle was also called the Battle of Kanauj. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• After living in exile for 15 years, Humayun saw an opportunity to rule near Afghanistan by defeating the Sur dynasty in 1555. He set up the Mughal throne again. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Humayun was a learned person and a student of Mathematics, Astronomy, and Astrology. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• He loved painting and wrote poetry in the Persian language.
• Accordingly, option 4 is correct.

The Gandhi–Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and the then Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin on 5 March 1931 before the second Round Table Conference in London.

The correct answer is ​places of exquisite stone art and architecture.

Key Points

• In the history of Indian art and architecture, the Gupta period occupies an important place.
• But most of the architecture of this period is lost due to foreign invasions like that of Huns.
• The sculptures in the temple at Garhwas near Allahabad remain important specimen of Gupta art.
  • The ruins of the temple were fortified in the 18th century by Raja Baghel Raja Vikramaditya.
  • The fortification consisted of a square enclosure and parapets, giving a fortress kind of look.
  • The temple has many relics belonging to the Gupta period, which date back to as old as the 5th and 6th centuries.
• The Bhitari monolithic pillar of Skandagupta is also remarkable.
  • The inscription is extremely important in understanding the chronology of the various Gupta rulers.
  • It also mentions the conflict between Skandagupta and the Pushyamitras as well as the Hunas.
• In Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, an ancient temple dating back to the Gupta period (5th century) has been discovered recently.
  • The stairs of the temple had ‘shankhalipi’ inscriptions, which were deciphered by the archaeologists as saying, ‘Sri Mahendraditya’, the title of Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty.
    • Shankhalipi or “shell-script” is a term used by scholars to describe ornate spiral characters assumed to be Brahmi derivatives that look like conch shells or shankhas.

• During the reign of Masud Shah, towards the end of 1245 AD, Mongols captured Multan which was recovered by Balban.
• During the reign of Ghiyasuddin Balban, there were Mongolian invasions in 1279 AD and 1286 AD.
• During the reign of Jalaluddin Khilji, in 1292 AD, Abdullah, the leader of the Mongols, came to the northern part of India but later about 4000 Mongols were converted to Islam and came to be known as the 'New Muslaman'.
• During the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, there was no Mongol Invasion but Timur, the Lame attacked India in 1398 AD i.e. after his death.

• "The Story of the Integration of the Indian States" is authored by V. P. Menon (Vapal Pangunni Menon).
• V. P. Menon was a key civil servant and right-hand man of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and he played a significant role in the negotiation process that led to the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
• His book provides a detailed account of the strategies and negotiations involved in this complex political and administrative task

Additional Information

• Vapal Pangunni Menon, commonly known as V. P. Menon, was a significant figure in Indian history, particularly during the period leading up to and immediately following India's independence from British rule in 1947.

• Born in 1893, Menon rose from humble beginnings to become one of the highest-ranking Indian officials in the British Indian administration.

• He is best known for his close association with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. As Patel's right-hand man, Menon played a pivotal role in the process of integrating the princely states into the Indian Union, an operation that was crucial to the formation of the Republic of India as a cohesive and unified nation.

• Menon held the positions of Reforms Commissioner and Secretary in the Ministry of States. His excellent negotiation skills and deep understanding of both the Indian princely states and British administrative system were instrumental in persuading the rulers of the princely states to accede to India.

• V. P. Menon is the author of two seminal works on this period of Indian history: "The Transfer of Power in India" and "The Story of the Integration of the Indian States." These books provide invaluable insights into the political and administrative challenges faced by India during its transition from British rule to independence and the subsequent unification of its diverse regions.

• Menon's legacy is that of a key architect of India's unity, remembered for his dedication, strategic acumen, and the pivotal role he played in shaping the newly independent nation. He passed away in 1966, leaving behind a lasting impact on India's historical and political landscape.

The correct answer is Naqshbandi.

Key Points

• Naqshbandi sect was believed to be the most orthodox among Sufi sects.
• It is the Sunni order of Sufism. It was one of the four major Sufism sects in India including Chisti, Qadriyya, Suhrawardiyya.
• It got its name from Baha-Ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari and traces its spiritual lineage to the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Abu Bakr, who was father-in-law, companion, and successor of Muhammad.
• Abu Bakr was the first Caliph of Sunni Islam.

The correct answer is KakkukaKey Points

• Kakkuka, is specifically mentioned as the author of the Gwalior Prashasti, which serves as a eulogy for Mihira Bhoja.
• The inscription extols the virtues, achievements, and the extent of Mihira Bhoja's empire.The Gurjara-Pratiharas rose to prominence in the 8th century, notably resisting Arab invasions during Nagabhata I's reign.
• Bhoja, a significant emperor, is credited as the dynasty's founder.
• Known as Gurjara-Pratiharas during their rule in Kannauj, they established principalities in Rajasthan.
• Their expansion led to conflicts with rivals like the Palas and Rashtrakutas, particularly for control over Malwa, Gujarat, and Kanauj.
• Despite initial setbacks against the Rashtrakutas, the Pratiharas faced defeat in 790 and 806-07, prompting their retreat to the Deccan and paving the way for the Palas.
• The poet Rajashekhara was associated with Gurjara-Pratihara King Mahendrapala and his son Mahipal.

Additional Information

• Some notable rulers of Gurjara -Pratihara Dynasty -
  • Nagabhata I (730 – 760 AD):
    • Founded the Pratihara dynasty and resisted Arab invasions successfully.
    • Established an empire from Gujarat to Gwalior.
    • Fought against Rashtrakuta ruler Dantidurga but was later succeeded by his brother's sons, Kakkuka and Devaraja.
• Vatsaraja (780 – 800 AD):
  • Son of Devaraja, expanded control over north India and made Ujjain his capital.
  • Captured Kanauj but faced conflicts with Pala and Rashtrakuta rulers.
  • Defeated Dharmapala but later lost Kannauj to Dhruva.
• Nagabhata II (800 – 833 AD):
  • Revived the empire's prestige by conquering Sindh, Andhra, Vidarbha.
  • Defeated Rashtrakutas, expanded the empire, and rebuilt the Somnath temple in Gujarat.
• Mihir Bhoja (836 – 885 AD):
  • Grandson of Nagabhata II, ruled for 46 years.
  • Reorganized and consolidated the empire, known for his Vaishnavism.
  • Recognized by Arabs as "King Baura," ruled from Kannauj.

Both the given statements (A) and (R) are false.

Important Points

• In Akbar’s reign, the jagirs were carefully assessed so that their revenues were roughly equal to the salary of the mansabdar.
• During Aurangzeb’s reign, this was no longer the case and the actual revenue collected was often less than the granted sum.
• There was also a huge increase in the number of mansabdars, which meant a long wait before they received a jagir.
• These and other factors created a shortage in the number of jagirs.
• As a result, many jagirdars tried to extract as much revenue as possible while they had a jagir.

• Aurangzeb was unable to control these developments in the last years of his reign and the peasantry therefore suffered tremendously.

Thus, we can conclude that both the given statements (A) and (R) are false.

The Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures of bronzes. One of its important remains is the Nataraja Idol of Lord Shiva made of bronze. Nataraja is most often depicted through a statue. Such a statute was found during the Chola period.

J.B. Bury is the author of 'The Idea of Progress'.

Key Points

• J.B.Bury (1861-1927) was an English historian of the positivist tradition.
• He firmly believed in the scientific status of history and exhorted the historians to be accurate, erudite and exact in their search and presentation of facts.
• He maintained that although history may provide material for writing literature or philosophy, it was different from both these because it was a science.
• He wrote many important historical works including the 'History of Greece' and 'A History of the Later Roman Empire'.

• He was also the author of the book 'The Idea of Progress'.

Hence, we can conclude that J.B. Bury is the author of 'The Idea of Progress'.

The correct answer is Revenue free land given to learned persons

Key Points

• The Mughal administration issued grants as Madad-i-Mash to pious or otherwise worthy recipients as charity.
• The spirit of composite culture and harmony expressed in revenue-free grants (Madad-i-Mash), which the nobles extended to the support of saints, maintenance of religious institutions, religious places and upkeep of Mashaikhs etc.
• Aurangzeb's Farman of 1690 talks about making aimma lands hereditary. The aimma lands here refer to the madad – i – mash grants.
• Since most Mughal emperors consciously followed this tradition of granting some land as madad – I- maash to women, Jahangir also continued with this policy.
• category of lands were the Madad-I Mash grants:- Poor and destitute.

Before attempting such a question we need to understand the meaning of such philosophy.

PHILOSOPHY

1) Visistha Advaita - (literally "Advaita with uniqueness; qualifications") is a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy. It is non-dualism of the qualified whole, in which Brahman alone exists, but is characterized by multiplicity. It can be described as qualified monism or qualified non-dualism or attributive monism.

2) Dwita Siddhanta - Dvaita is a Sanskrit word that means "duality, dualism". The term refers to any premise, particularly in theology on the temporal and the divine, where two principles (truths) or realities are posited to exist simultaneously and independently.

3) Advaitasiddhant - is one of the classic Indian paths to spiritual realization. It postulates that the true Self – individual soul, Atman , shorn of avidya – is the same as the highest reality, Brahman. The phenomenal world is described as an illusory appearance that is other than the real as well as the unreal (sadasadvilakṣaṇa).

4) Dwita Advaita – it was balance between Visistha Advaita and Advaita

So, here is the correct match:

PHILOSOPHY PROPOUNDER

1). Visistha Advaita - a. Ramanuja

2). Dwita Advaita - b. Nimbaraka

3). Dwita Siddhanta - c. Madhava Acharya

4). Advaitasiddhant - d. Shankaracharaya

• Government of India Act 1935 provided for an all-India Federation of the provinces and the Princely States. This federation did not come in force as princely state did not joined the assembly. However, the act did come in force. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• The act did not abrogate the doctrine of Paramountcy. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The Act which abrogated the doctrine of Paramountcy of British over the Princely States was Indian Independence Act of 1947.

Dastak was the trade permit sanctioned to the East India Company by the Mughal government. Under the terms and conditions of Farrukh Siyar’s farman of 1717 the East India Company was entitled to trade in Bengal without paying the normal customs duty. Based on the right derived from the imperial farman, the company used to issue dastaks authorising their agents to trade customs-free within the province of Bengal. The nawab had issued parwanas to all his officials to honour the dastaks when the company traders produced it to them on demand. According to the farman of 1717, this right of free trade covered by the dastaks was restricted to the company alone. This right, according to the farman, was not to be exercised by the company's private traders. But in practice, the private traders of the company generally abused the free trade right by producing the dastak to the chowkies of the government. Also, the company sold dastaks at high price not only to European private traders but also to native merchants. The abuse of dastak was, in fact, one of the key issues of conflicts between the nawab and the company.

The correct answer is Guru Angad Dev Ji.

• Guru Angad (31 March 1504 – 29 March 1552) was the second of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• He was born in a Hindu family, with the birth name Lehna, in the village of Harike (now Sarae Naga, near Muktsar) in the northwest Indian subcontinent.
• Bhai Lehna grew up in a Khatri family (Kshatriya, traditionally warriors), his father was a small-scale trader, he worked as a pujari (priest) and religious teacher centered around goddess Durga.
• He met Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and became a Sikh. He served and worked with Guru Nanak for many years.
• Guru Nanak gave Bhai Lehna the name Angad, chose Angad as the second Sikh Guru instead of his sons.
• He is remembered in Sikhism for adopting and formalizing the Gurmukhi alphabet from pre-existing Indo-European scripts such as the Tankre of the Himalayan region.
• He began the process of collecting the hymns of Nanak, contributed 62 or 63 hymns of his own. Instead of his son, he chose a Vaishnava Hindu Amar Das as his successor and the third Guru of Sikhism.

The history of ancient Tamil kingdoms i.e. Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas came to be known from Sangam Literature.

The correct answer is 2-3-4-1.

Key Points

• Narshimhavarman I (630-668 CE) succeeded his father Mahendravarman I.
  • He is considered to be the greatest Pallava ruler.
  • He took the title of Mamalla (great warrior).
  • He defeated and killed Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II and destroyed the Chalukyan capital Vatapi.
    • He took the title Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi) in order to commemorate this remarkable victory.
• Dantidurga (reigned 735–756 CE), also known as Dantivarman II was the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta.
  • He defeated the Gurjaras and captured Malwa from them.
  • Then he annexed the Chalukyan kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II.
• Dharmapala (reigned c. 770–810) succeeded Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty.
  • He was one of the greatest kings that ever ruled in Bengal and one who raised the glory of the kingdom to great heights.
  • It may be mentioned that in the famous tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, to establish control over Northern India, Dharmapala played a very crucial role.
• Mihira Bhoja (c. 836–885 CE) or Bhoja I was a king belonging to the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty.
  • He was the most well-known king of this dynasty.
  • Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala (reigned c. 890–910), the Pratihara empire reached its peak of prosperity and power.
  • The Gurjara-Pratiharas, or simply, the Pratiharas (8th century CE - 11th century CE) held their sway over western and northern India.

Muhammad Bin Qasim was the first Muslim to invade India in 712 A.D. He conquered Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus river but did not advance further. So, (C) is the correct answer. Timur Lang or Timur the Lame was a Muslim conqueror who invaded India in 1398. The ruler of Delhi at the time was Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. Chengiz Khan was a Mongol ruler.  He conquered some kingdoms on the banks of River Indus in 1221 A.D. The ruler of Delhi at that time was Iltutmish. Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan who invaded India several times between 1747 and 1767, the most famous being the invasion of 1761, when he defeated the Marathas in the 3rd battle of Panipat.

The correct answer is 64 gates and 570 towers.

Key Points

• Megasthenes was a Greek Diplomat, Historian, and ethnographer whose extensive writings about the cultures of India gave an insight into the lives of ancient Indians during the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Seleucid-Mauryan War around 305 BC, Megasthenes became an ambassador for Seleucus I to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra.
• The compilation of Megasthenes’ work is known as Indica.
• According to the writings of the Greek diplomat Megasthenes, Pataliputra, is the capital surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570 towers that rivaled the splendors of contemporaneous Persian sites such as Susa and Ecbatana.

Additional Information

• The capital of the Maurya empire was Patliputra.
• The founder of the Maurya empire was Chandragupta Maurya.
• Chandragupta, with the help of an intelligent and politically astute Brahmin, Kautilya usurped the throne by defeating Dhana Nanda in 321 BC.
• His reign lasted from 321 BC to 297 BC.
• He abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Bindusara, and went to Karnataka with Jain monk Bhadrabahu. He had embraced Jainism and is said to have starved himself to death according to the Jain tradition at Shravanabelagola.

The correct answer is Hafiz Dance.

Key Points

• Hafiza Dance is a wonderful performing art, which is based on the classical music of Kashmir- the Sufiana Kalam.
• The instrument used in Hafiz Nagma is called Santoor, the most popular folk instrument (played by Goddess Sharada, the goddess of learning). The Santoor is a hundred-stringed instrument that is played with sticks.
• Sufiana Kalam has been popular in Kashmir since the 15th century when the Iranis arrived here. That is why the dance has Persian and Sufi influence.
• The popular Hafiza dance is performed by Kashmiri women at weddings and festivals to the accompaniment of Sufiana Kalam.
• It was banned in the 1920s by the ruling maharaja, who felt this dance was becoming too sensual.
• It was replaced by Bacha Nagma Dance that is performed only by boys or by men, dressed as women.

Additional Information

Dances popular in Kashmir Region:

The correct answer is Naravardhana.

Key Points

• The Genealogy of the Pushyabhuti dynasty begins with the name King Naravardhana.
• After the decline of the Gupta Empire (3rd-century CE-6th century CE) in the 6th century CE in northern India, the Pushyabhuti Dynasty (c. 500 CE-647 CE) grew.
• Also known as the Vardhana or Pushpabhuti Dynasty, the core area of their kingdom was situated in what is now the state of Haryana in India with the capital at Sthanishvara or Thaneshvara (present-day Thanesar), and later at Kanyakubja (modern-day Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh state).
• Its last king, Emperor Harshavardhana or Harsha (r. 606-647 CE), was the most notable king of this dynasty.

Important Points

• The Pushyabhutis built a strong kingdom vying for political dominance in India with other regional powers and gained imperial status under Harsha.
• It was short-lived, however, and Kannauj eventually came to be regarded as the base kingdom for future empires.
• Bana describes Prabhakaravardhana (r. 580-605 CE, also known as Pratapashila) as "a proud man, vexed by his proud aspirations".

The correct answer is Subaltern Historiography. Key Points

• Subaltern historiography is a historical approach that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, primarily in South Asia and was developed by scholars like Ranajit Guha and Dipesh Chakrabarty.
• It aims to uncover the experiences and perspectives of marginalized and oppressed groups who have been traditionally excluded or ignored in mainstream historical narratives.
• Range of topics extending in time from the Mughal period to the nineteen seventies:
  • Subaltern historiography is interested in studying the experiences of marginalized groups throughout history, spanning from the Mughal period (16th to 19th centuries) to the 1970s.
  • It recognizes that the subaltern condition is not limited to a specific time period but has persisted over centuries.
• Range of topics in theme from communalism to industrial labour:
  • ​Subaltern historiography examines a wide range of themes.
  • It explores issues related to communalism, which refers to conflicts and divisions between different religious or ethnic communities.
  • It also focuses on industrial labour, considering the experiences of workers and labouring classes in the context of industrialization and capitalism.
• Range of topics in manner from the descriptive to the conceptual:
  • Subaltern historiography employs diverse methodologies and approaches.
  • On one hand, it includes descriptive studies that provide detailed accounts of the lives, struggles, and aspirations of subaltern groups.
  • On the other hand, it also incorporates conceptual analyses that delve into the underlying structures, ideologies, and power dynamics that shape subaltern experiences.
• In summary, subaltern historiography seeks to give voice to the marginalized and oppressed groups throughout history by addressing a wide range of topics, exploring themes such as communalism and industrial labour, and adopting descriptive and conceptual approaches to understand their experiences.

• It challenges dominant narratives and aims to provide a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of history.

Therefore based on the above discussion, the correct answer is Subaltern Historiography.

The correct answer is Bonded labor system.

Key Points

• “Sagadi system”
  • It is known as bonded labor system.
  • Bonded labor was the practice of keeping that person or any member of his family as a domestic servant in lieu of the amount lent to the poor people by moneylenders or upper elites or in lieu of the amount of interest.

Important Points

• About the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976
  • The Act is being implemented by the respective State Governments/Union Territories.
  • The Act provides an institutional mechanism at the district level in the form of Vigilance Committees.
  • For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, the State Governments and Union Territories may assign to an Executive Magistrate the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or second class for the trial of offenses under this Act.

Indo-Saracenic Architecture

• The term Saracenic was used to refer to the Roman people that lived in the desert areas of Arabia. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It is an amalgamation of elements of Mughal architecture with the Victorian Gothic style. It is also known as Indo-Gothic, or Neo-Mughal style.
• British governmental and public buildings drew inspiration from local architetural traditions and also Gothic features (pointed arch, ornate decoration and grandeur).
• Chepaul Palace in Chennai built for the Nawab of Arcot was the first Indo-Saracenic building India. Other examples include the Mysore Palace (Karnataka), Victoria Memorial (Kolkata), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai).

Pietra Dura

• The term has been derive from Italian, and it means ‘’hard stones’’.
• The technique was developed in ancient Rome and was known as opus sectile, and reached its full maturity in Florence, Italy. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect, as the technique did not develop from French architecture.
• It involves cutting and fitting of highly polished coloured precious or semi-precious stones to create images. The stones are glued one by one to the surface which has been cut and sliced in the shape of the stone. The stones fit interlock in the frame like a jigsaw puzzle, creating beautiful patterns.
• After this, the stones are heated to get the desired shaded coloured effect.
• Finally, the stones and edges are polished for a lasting shine.
• From Florence, the art was diffused all over the world, including the Mughal court in India. Here, the art developed with the name Parchin Kari or inlay work.
• It started to be used extensively from Jahangir’s reign. The Taj Mahal is a fine example of art in India

• Historical Materialism, a core concept in Marxist philosophy, emphasizes the economic system (mode of production) as the foundation for understanding social change throughout history.

• The mode of production refers to how a society produces goods and services. It includes the following:

1. Forces of Production: This refers to the technology, tools, and human labor used in production.

2. Relations of Production: This refers to the social relationships people have during production, such as the relationship between owners and workers.

• Historical Materialism suggests that the forces of production constantly develop, leading to contradictions with the existing relations of production. This creates tension and eventually a revolution, leading to a new mode of production and a new social order. For example, the rise of machinery in capitalism created a class conflict between factory owners (bourgeoisie) and workers (proletariat).
• Historical Materialism offers a powerful tool for analyzing social change and class struggle. However, critics argue it overemphasizes economics and downplays the role of ideas, culture, and individual agency in history.

Additional Information

• Great leaders and historical figures: While influential, these figures are seen by Marxists as products of their time and the underlying economic conditions. They may act as catalysts for change, but the underlying cause lies in the economic base.
• Ideas, philosophies, and religions: Marx acknowledged the importance of ideas, but argued they are shaped by the material conditions of society. Religion, for instance, might be used to justify an existing class structure.
• Natural disasters and environmental upheavals: These can certainly impact societies, but Historical Materialism focuses on long-term, systemic change driven by economic factors.

Big buildings distinguished both Harappa and Mohenjo-daro; the latter was extremely rich in structures. Their monuments symbolized the ability of the ruling class to mobilize labour and collect tax; the huge brick constructions also impressed common people with the prestige and influence of their rulers.