The Caste System of India

7.6 Compare and Contrast Ancient and Modern India’s social structure and the role of government and religion via an analysis of:

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Choose: Han and Qin (Chin) Dynasties OR Hammurabi and Confucianism American Values vs. Daoist Values

What is the Caste System? (~500 BCE)

Division of Indian society into groups based on wealth or occupation

Very strict rules guide the interactions of different classes

Originally started by the Hindu religion because they believe in reincarnation (your spirit or soul has many lives on Earth) and the quality of your life, i.e. the social class you are born into, is a punishment or reward for your past life.

What rules controlled the Castes?

Sutras were rules that guided what each Caste could do you could not marry outside of your

caste you could not eat with anyone in any

other castes you were born into your caste and were

not able to leave that caste Has been illegal to be prejudice against

an Indian because of their caste since 1950 c.e.

Make a social class pyramid

Brahmins- priests

Kshatriyas rulers or warriors

Vaisyas farmers, craftspeople and trader

Sudras Laborers

Untouchables

Untouchables- performed the most undesirable jobs

in the society