What historical factor made merchants, traders, and local chieftains powerful patrons of art in Western India?

1) Industrialization

2) Presence of significant ports and trade routes

3) Presence of a significant female population in the region

4) Lack of artistic diversity

2

Answer: Presence of significant ports and trade routes

Explanation: The presence of significant ports and trade routes in western India made merchants, traders, and local chieftains powerful patrons of art.

Painting activity that thrived largely in western parts of India constitutes the Western Indian School of Painting with Gujarat as its most prominent centre, and southern parts of Rajasthan and western parts of Central India as other centres. With the presence of some significant ports in Gujarat, there was a network of trade routes passing through these areas, especially, making merchants, traders and local chieftains powerful patrons of art due to the wealth and prosperity that trading brought in. The merchant class, largely represented by the Jain community, led to become significant patrons of themes related to Jainism. Hence, part of the Western Indian School that depicts Jain themes and manuscripts is known as the Jain School of Painting.