The correct answer is: a) Ahom Kingdom (Assam).
The Ahom Kingdom was a kingdom that existed in the Brahmaputra Valley in northeastern India from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It was founded by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince from Mong Mao, who migrated to Assam in 1228. The Ahom Kingdom was a powerful and influential kingdom that had a significant impact on the history of Assam. It was a major center of trade and commerce, and it played a key role in the development of the Assamese language and culture.
The Ahom Kingdom had occasional conflicts and trade with Meghalaya’s tribes. The Ahoms were interested in the trade goods that the tribes could provide, such as ivory, rhinoceros horn, and tiger skins. The tribes were interested in the Ahoms’ iron and steel goods, as well as their firearms. The trade between the Ahoms and the tribes was often conducted through intermediaries, such as the Jaintias.
The Ahom Kingdom was eventually overthrown by the British in 1826. However, its legacy continues to be felt in Assam today. The Ahoms are still a significant ethnic group in Assam, and their culture and language have had a major impact on the development of the region.
The other options are incorrect because:
- The Mughal Empire was a Muslim empire that ruled over much of India from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It did not have any significant contact with Meghalaya’s tribes.
- The Burmese Empire was a Buddhist empire that ruled over much of Southeast Asia from the 11th to the 19th centuries. It did have some contact with Meghalaya’s tribes, but it was not as significant as the contact between the Ahom Kingdom and Meghalaya’s tribes.
- The Pala Dynasty was a Hindu dynasty that ruled over much of Bengal from the 8th to the 12th centuries. It did not have any significant contact with Meghalaya’s tribes.