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