At the end of the Rigvedic period, the Aryan society began to expand from the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, into the western Ganges plain. It became increasingly agricultural and was socially organised around the hierarchy of the four varnas, or social classes. This social structure was characterized both by syncretising with the native cultures of northern India, but also eventually by the excluding of indigenous peoples by labelling their occupations impure. During this period, many of the previous small tribal units and chiefdoms began to coalesce into monarchical, state-level polities. COUNT 5
QSN1 When did the Aryan culture begin its expansion? ANS1 Rigvedic period QSN2 Into what area did the Aryan culture expand? ANS2 western Ganges plain QSN3 What were the Aryan social classes called? ANS3 varnas QSN4 What did the Aryans label as impure in the indigenous peoples in order to exclude them from certain social classes? ANS4 occupations QSN5 What groupings formed up into larger monarchical groups? ANS5 small tribal units