Indian People – The Caste SystemLesson #3

Classes in America

What are some social classes in America?

How often do you interact with people outside of your “class”? (describe)

The CASTE SYSTEM determined your place in society

Like a social class

In India, the classes live near each otherBut they NEVER mix

In India, they divide classes by your jobEach job “level” had a nameYou NEVER operated outside your job

SOCIAL STRUCTURE• THE CASTE SYSTEM• Indian society was divided into 4 social classes

CALLED

________________

What Determines

YourVarna?

Varna

• Your varna is your job.• You can marry and hang out with people in

your varna ONLY.

XXX

• People were divided according to occupation

1. _________________________- Priests & Teachers- Highest Ranking Class- Smallest Numerically

What is the highest class In the USA today?

2. _________________________(Pronounced: ksha-tree-uhs)- Warriors and rulers

Why would warriors get tobe in a higherclass?

• 3. ________________________(Pronounced: vay-shyuhs)

- Common people (Traders, Farmers, Herders, etc.)

• 4. ________________________– Servants who waited on the other classes

CASTE ORIGINS

KSHATRIYAS BRAHMINS

VAISHYAS SHUDRAS

• The had none of the protections of the Caste System and could perform only tasks that others did not

• (such as handling dead animals)

If someone is “outside”

the caste system, what does that

make them?

untouchables

Untouchables in India

click

Example of the “rat catchers” in India

1. What is a Varna?2. What determines your Varna?3. What makes varnas different?4. What is expected of you when you reach marrying

age, in terms of your Varna?5. What is the job of a Brahmin?6. What is the job of a Kshatrya?7. What is the job of a Vaisya?8. What is the job of a Shudra?