The Gupta Empire's larger states depended on samantas who exercised control over which of the following?

Local resources and land

In the fourth century, larger states emerged, notably the Gupta Empire, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. These states relied on the support of samantas, individuals who sustained themselves through local resources and maintained control over land. Samantas offered allegiance and military aid to rulers, thereby playing a crucial role in the functioning of the state. It is noteworthy that influential samantas had the potential to ascend to the status of kings, while weak rulers risked being diminished to subordinate positions.