Tribes Nomads and settled Communities

Nomadic pastoralists moved over long distances with their animals. They lived on milk and other pastoral products. They also exchanged wool, ghee etc. with settled agriculturists for grain, cloth, utensils and other products. They bought and sold these goods as they moved from one place to another, transporting them on their animals. Many pastoral tribes reared and sold animals such as cattle and horses, to the prosperous people. Different castes of petty peddlers also travelled from village to village. They made and sold wares such as ropes, reeds, straw matting and coarse sacks. Sometimes mendicants acted as wandering merchants. There were castes of entertainers who performed in different towns for earning a living.

There are several theories given about the origin of Rajputs. Some claimed their genealogy to Solar and Lunar families of Kshatriyas mentioned in the Mahabharata. Chandra Bardai in his 'Prithviraj Raso' mentioned that, the Chalukyas (Solankis), the Parmaras (Pawars), the Chahmanas (Chauhans)and the Pratiharas (Parihars) evolved from the yajna organized by Vasistha at Mount Abu. Some historians said that a number of classes from Scythians and Huns assimilated in the Indian Society. Some chief clans of South India like Kalachuris, Chandelas & Gaharwaras were related with Gond, Rathore & Bundella respectively.