THE ARYANS

The Aryans were nomadic tribes who came down to India about 3500 years ago from Central Asia in search of food for themselves and for their cattle. It is however not known why they left their homeland. It believed that a natural disaster, like drought or outbreak of disease, could have led to their fleeing.

The Aryans did not build permanent homes or grow crops. They were nomads and reared cattle and sheep, which they considered as their wealth. They learned to settle down form the Dravidians.

 

The Aryans divided the society into four main castes. The highest were the Brahmin priests who governed the country.

 

 The next were Kshatriyas who were fighters. The third caste was called the Vaisyas who were traders. The lowest cast people were called Shudras. They had to serve the upper castes.