Which of the following best describes the state structures that benefitted the most from Indian Ocean trade?

The state structures that benefitted the most from Indian Ocean trade were primarily coastal city-states and empires with strong maritime capabilities. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Coastal City-States: Many coastal city-states flourished due to the Indian Ocean trade. These included the Swahili city-states of East Africa (like Mombasa, Kilwa, and Sofala), the city-states of the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf (like Aden and Hormuz), and the city-states in present-day Malaysia and Indonesia. These city-states acted as important trading hubs, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

2. Empires with Strong Maritime Capabilities: Empires that had strong maritime capabilities also benefitted greatly. This included the Abbasid Caliphate in the Middle East, the Chola Empire in South India, and the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires in Southeast Asia. These empires were able to control significant portions of the trade routes and ensured the safety and security of the trade.

3. Other Beneficiaries: Other beneficiaries included inland empires that had access to these coastal regions. For example, the Tang and Song dynasties in China benefitted from the trade through their coastal regions.

In conclusion, the state structures that benefitted the most from Indian Ocean trade were those that were strategically located along the trade routes and had the necessary maritime capabilities to participate in and control the trade.