1. Caste System

2. 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

3. 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

4. Caste System Race less central to growth of 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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”

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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