India’s Social Structure: Caste System Ap world CH 9

Caste System in India Similarities with China’s Social System: Social status determined at birth Little (if any) social mobility Sharp class distinctions and great inequalities Inequalities justified by religious/cultural traditions as natural and inevitable

Caste System in India “Caste” = comes from Portuguese word casta, which means “race” or “purity of blood” 4 varnas = ranked classes in the Indian caste system Each varna had its own duties Born into and remained in your varna for life

Caste System Focus: Economic specialization and culture 4 ranked classes Brahmin – priests Kshatriya – Warriors and Rulers Protect and govern society Vaisya – Commoners those who farmed the land Merchants and artisans Sudras Servants of their social betters Unskilled laborers

Caste System 1-3 pure Aryans “Twice Born” Physical Birth Formal initiation into respective varnas and Aryan descent 4 Not allowed to hear or repeat Vedas or take part in rituals and ceremonies

Caste System in India These 3 classes = regarded as pure Aryans Brahmins = Priests Study & teach the Vedas; perform religious ceremonies to please the gods & ensure welfare of people Kshatriyas = Warriors; Rulers Study the Vedas; lead government; head army These 3 classes = regarded as pure Aryans Vaisyas = Common people: merchants, artisans, farmers Tend herds, care for land; make & sell useful products Sudras = Native, non-Aryan people = Unskilled laborers, servants Serve other varnas Untouchables = Outside of Caste System Perform tasks considered unclean

Caste System in India: Formed from the Body of Purusha Brahmins = from the head Kshatriya = from the shoulders Vaisya = from the thighs Sudras = from the feet

The Untouchables Outside of the Varna system Lower than the Sudras It was believed that if people in higher castes came into contact with the untouchables, then their ritual purity would be “polluted” Untouchables used separate wells, separate bathrooms, separate temples for worship, etc. Many untouchables had to wear wooden clappers to alert others when they were approaching

Caste System in India Each varna was further divided into sub- castes called jatis Jatis were typically formed according to occupation --> ex: shoemakers, weavers, etc. Each jati had its own rules for daily life -- including diet, marriage, and social customs “It was better to do one’s own duty badly than another well”

Caste System in India Being born into a particular caste reflects good or bad Karma Dharma = the faithful and selfless performance of one’s present caste duties Any hope for rebirth into a higher caste rested on faith and selfless performance of one present caste duties Karma = determined which caste you would enter at birth Adhering to dharma and subduing your ego ensured spiritual progress, good karma, and possible birth into a higher caste when reincarnated Individuals own responsibility

Different from China and Greco-Roman World Caste Many different distinctions Unique set of ideas that justify and explain the social system

Caste Polluted Ritual unclean Rituals teach about permanent impurity Aides the ideology Threat of Ostracism Jati could kick you out Not social life Loss of social support

caste All most impossible to raise social status. Raise the status of the entire Jati - Aquire land - Wealth - adopting behaviors of higher caste groups - Find a previously over looked Ancestor Result: You may be redefined in a high Category

India VS China I: Priority to religious and ritual purity C: Elevated political officials C: Fewer but broader categories of society Scholar-gentry Landlords Peasants Merchants I: Far more rigid, less opportunity for social mobility than china

Belief Systems of Classical India AP world Chapter 9

Language & Traditions Traditions were passed down verbally for centuries because there was no written language People sang songs & recited epics = long poems celebrating their heroes Texts eventually written down in Sanskrit

Hinduism Many deities Based on different beliefs & practices -- not founded by one person Doesn’t have one, single holy book 3 gods are most important = Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer)

Vishnu = Preserver Brahma = Creator Siva = Destroyer

The Vedas Priests called Brahmins collected hymns, poems, prayers, and rituals into holy books known as Vedas Brahmins performed rituals and sacrifices, which gave them power and wealth

The Upanishads Upanishads = religious writings compiled by anonymous thinkers All humans have a soul = the atman All souls are part of 1 eternal & universal spirit = Brahman Goal in life = union with the Brahman = liberation or moksha

Cycle of Rebirth Believed in samsara = reincarnation/rebirth of the soul Soul passes through many lifetimes and continues until spiritual liberation = moksha Karma = how a person lives in this life determines what form the person will take in the next life Liberation achieved through a life of prayer, strict self-denial, and rejection of all worldly possessions

Buddhism vs. Hinduism Similarities Karma Rebirth/reincarnation Practice of meditation Final release from cycle of rebirth

Buddhism vs. Hinduism Differences Buddhism rejects: Religious authority of Hindu Brahmins Hindu caste system Hindu deities

Buddhism Founder = Siddhartha Gautama Prince from northern India Lived a sheltered and luxurious life Asked his charioteer to drive him around the city outside of the palace walls Was shocked to see the violence, old age, sickness, disease, and hardship that existed

Siddhartha Gautama Set out on a 6-year quest to find spiritual enlightenment and an answer to why this suffering existed Taught what he learned --> his followers renamed him the Buddha = the Enlightened One

Four Noble Truths All people suffer and know sorrow. People suffer because they desire. People can end their suffering by eliminating their desires. People can eliminate their desires by following the Eight-Fold Path.

Eight-Fold Path Know the truth Resist evil Say nothing to hurt others Respect life Work for the good of others Free your mind of evil Control your thoughts Practice meditation

Nirvana Following this path would lead to nirvana = state of enlightenment Not a place (like Heaven) State of peace and serenity

Buddhism: Different Expressions Theravada Buddhism = believe the Buddha is a wise teacher and model, but he isn’t divine A philosophy, not a religion Mahayana Buddhism = Buddha became a god who postponed his own entry into nirvana to help others Means the reincarnation of future Buddhas A religion, not a philosophy

Buddhism’s Decline in India Wealth of Buddhist monasteries and leading monks separated them from ordinary people Competition from Islam after 1000 CE People turned toward more popular form of Hinduism

New Wave of Hinduism More focus on individual action as a means of achieving spiritual liberation Less emphasis on rituals and sacrifices made by the Brahmins Stressed devotion to one of the gods/goddesses

Bhakti (Worship) Movement Intense adoration of and identification with a particular deity Resulted in many bhakti cults

India’s Great Civilization AP Notes: Chapter 9 Classical India India’s Great Civilization

Aryans Developed a new civilization in modern- day India Located in the Ganges Plain & the Indus River Valley

Ways of Life Loosely organized into tribes of nomadic herders Each tribe was led by a rajah = chief Cattle were the basis of their diet & economy Also served as money Tribes were often at war; raided each other’s cow herds Ways of Life

Ways of Life Indus River Valley was ideal for farming --> so people eventually settled down into agricultural communities People also hunted game; ate bananas & cucumbers Men dominated the society Women didn’t challenge their authority Boys & girls of high rank attended school

Mauryan Empire Led by Chandragupta Maurya Strong leader Developed a postal system Maintained a strong army Located in northern & central India

Mauryan Empire Ashoka = Chandragupta’s grandson Indian civilization blossomed under his reign His empire covered 2/3 of the subcontinent Gained this land with fierce wars of conquest & merciless armies After witnessing the horrors of battle, he vowed to never go to war again Followed the teachings of Buddha

Ashoka Created laws called the Rock Edicts --> laws were carved on rocks throughout the empire Stressed concern for other human beings Set up free hospitals, roads, and rest houses

Mauryan Empire Empire declined after Ashoka’s death His successor’s charged heavy taxes Also took crops from poor workers People turned against them

Gupta Empire Developed 500 years after the Mauryan Empire (around 310 AD) Started by Chandragupta I (no relation to the other) Ruled northern India for more than 200 years This period is called India’s Golden Age Arts & sciences flourished Maintained authority with trained soldiers, spies, & assassins

Gupta Religion Hinduism was the official religion Built Hindu temples Temples decorated with brightly painted sculptures of Hindu epic tales

Gupta Life Empire reached its height under Chandragupta II who gave people more freedom However, status of women declined Parents chose husbands/wives for their children Child marriages were common

Gupta Achievements Court welcomed poets, playwrights, philosophers, and scientists Learning & education promoted Writing focused on religion & folktales

Gupta Achievements Made advances in mathematics --> mostly algebra Invented concept of zero Explained concept of infinity Created Arabic Numerals (#s 1-9)

Gupta Achievements Astronomy Said the Earth was round Had some knowledge of gravity Medicine Set bones, performed surgery, invented instruments

End of the Gupta Empire Empire failed after Chandragupta II’s death in 415 CE As government weakened, the empire faced invasions