1. Chapter 4.3 Guided Reading and Review
Pillars of Indian Life

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

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

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

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