ANCIENT India:Some posts were made hereditary.This meant that the SON got a particular post after the DEATH of this father.Let us take the example of poet Harisena.He was a Maha-danda-nayaka (Chief Judicial Officer) and his father held the same post.There were many instances when a single person held many posts.Let us take the example of Harisena once again.He also held the posts of Kumar-amatya (important minister) and Sandhi-vigrahika (minister of war and peace).Many important men exercised authority in local administration.Some examples of such persons are; the nagara-shreshthi (chief banker or merchant), sarthavaha (leader of the merchant caravan), and the heads of the kayasthas (scribes).These policies appear quite effective in keeping control over the KINGDOM to a certain extent.But, gradually, the local satraps grew in power and eventually set up their own INDEPENDENT kingdoms.