Which of the following statements are true in the context of the accounts of Francois Bernier:

A) Bernier’s descriptions influenced Western theorists from the sixteenth century onwards
B) Portugueses philosopher Montesquieu used Bernier's descriptions for developing one of his theories related to Asia.
C) Montesquieu used his account to develop the idea of oriental despotism.
D) The idea of oriental despotism was further developed as the concept of the Asiatic mode of production by Karl Marx in the nineteenth century.

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

C and D

The correct answer is Option  2 - C and D

Given statements:

A) Bernier’s descriptions influenced Western theorists from the sixteenth century onwards. (Incorrect)
B) Portugueses philosopher Montesquieu used Bernier's descriptions for developing one of his theories related to Asia. (Incorrect)
C) Montesquieu used his account to develop the idea of oriental despotism. (Correct)
D) The idea of oriental despotism was further developed as the concept of the Asiatic mode of production by Karl Marx in the nineteenth century. (Correct)

Explanation:

Bernier’s descriptions influenced Western theorists from the eighteenth century onwards. The French philosopher Montesquieu, for instance, used this account to develop the idea of oriental despotism, according to which rulers in Asia (the Orient or the East) enjoyed absolute authority over their subjects, who were kept in conditions of subjugation and poverty, arguing that all land belonged to the king and that private property was non-existent. According to this view, everybody, except the emperor and his nobles, barely managed to survive. This idea was further developed as the concept of the Asiatic mode of production by Karl Marx in the nineteenth century. He argued that in India (and other Asian countries), before colonialism, surplus was appropriated by the state. This led to the emergence of a society that was composed of a large number of autonomous and (internally) egalitarian village communities. The imperial court presided over these village communities, respecting their autonomy as long as the flow of surplus was unimpeded. This was regarded as a stagnant system.