To which caste did farmers and merchants belong?
the kshatriyas
the brahmans
the vaisyas
the sudras

The correct answer is:

The Vais(h)ya.

The Kshatriyas were ruling elite: kings and their families, and also soldiers

The Brahmans were the priests and teachers

The Vaisyas were, as already said, farmers and merchants, also artisants

The Sudras, the lowest caste were providing other services to the higher castes.

In the late fifteenth century, a major world power that established colonies in the era of old imperialism was france or germany or spain. their colonial activity was mainly limited to america or africa or asia.