Social and cultural changes: Society was dominated by Princes and priests. The Princess claim the status of Brahmanas or Kshatriyas, though many of them were local clan chiefs promoted to the second varna through benefactions made to the priests. The priests were mainly brahmanas, though the Jain and Buddhist monks should also be placed in this category. In this phase, priests gained in influence and authority because of land grants. Below the Princess and priests became the peasantry, which was divided into numerous peasant castes.