Chapter 4.3 Guided Reading and Review Pillars of Indian Life

A. Main Ideas 1. Caste System: The caste system is closely linked to Hindu beliefs. It has a complex set of rules that dictate the aspects of life for each caste The caste system ensures a stable social order and gives the people a sense of identity

A. Main Ideas 2. Family Life: The ideal basic unit was a joint family, with all relations sharing a household. The family was patriarchal, but a man made family decisions only after consulting his wife and other family members. Women’s status varied over time. In earlier times, they had more status and freedom. Later-on, upper-class women were often restricted to their homes.

A. Main Ideas 3. Village Life: A typical village had a small cluster of homes surrounded by fields for farming. Each village ran its own affairs, overseen by a village council and headman

B. Reviewing Key Terms 4. Untouchables: People in the lowest class, considered impure and forced to perform the dirtiest jobs

B. Reviewing Key Terms 5. Joint Family: Family unit where all relations share a household

B. Reviewing Key Terms 6. Patriarchal: System where the father or the eldest male is the head of the household.