India is a subcontinent•Subcontinent is a large piece of land that sticks out from a continent.
•India sticks out from the rest of Asia into the Indian Ocean.
Monsoon•A strong wind that blows across East Asia at certain times of the year.
•India’s climate is ruled by monsoons or strong seasonal winds.
Aryans
•Came to India after the Indus Valley Civilization ended.
•Migrated from Central Asia•They were nomadic herders.•They had a caste system
Caste System
•Society was divided into classes.
•People had to stay in the caste of their parents.
•People did the same work as their parents and other members of their group.
The Caste System of Ancient India
The Different Castes
Chat-ree-yas
Vie-shas
Soo-dras
The Brahmins
Priests and
teachers of Sanskrit
and Dharma
Only caste allowed
to teach and attend
school
The Kshatriya
Functioned as
warriors or army
leaders
“Chat-ree-yas”
The Vaishyas “vie-shas”
Traders, cattle
farmers, minor
officials, merchants
and artisans
Owned their own
business or farm
land
The Sudras “soo-dras” Servants and farmhands
Did not own their own land and
businesses
Most people were in this caste
The Harijans or Outcastes
Known as “untouchables”, below all others
Responsible for handling the dead, cleaning up
human waste, and collecting garbage
RulesCaste status passed
down through family
generations and was
impossible to change.
People from different
castes could not marry,
befriend, or eat with each
other
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