CASTE SYSTEM

Do Now10/21/13

• Read the “Code of Manu” and answer the associated questions.

• HW: Study for Unit 2 Test on Wednesday

Code of Manu For the sake of the preservation of this entire creation, Purusha,

the exceedingly resplendent one, assigned separate duties to the

classes which had sprung from his mouth, arms, thighs, and feet.

Teaching, studying, performing sacrificial rites, so too making

others perform sacrificial rites, and giving away and receiving

gifts -- these he assigned to the brahmins.

Protection of the people, giving away of wealth, performance of

sacrificial rites, study, and nonattachment to sensual pleasures –

these are, in short, the duties of a kshatriya. Tending of cattle,

giving away of wealth, performance of sacrificial rites, study,

trade and commerce, . . . and agriculture -- these are the

occupations of a vaishya.

The lord has prescribed only one occupation. . . for a sudra;

namely, service without malice of . . . these other three classes.

India’s Caste System

• What is a Caste? – social group that someone is born into and

cannot change

• How many of you have felt excluded from a group of people at one time or another? How did that make you feel? Why were you excluded?

Rules, rules, rules…• Being in a caste means that you have no

say in:– the job you have – whom you can marry– who your friends can be

• Nobody in India called the system a caste- they call it jati.

• Many jati still exist in India’s society today.

Brahmins

• Top varna

• Made up of priests– Only people who could perform a religious

ceremony

Kshatriyas

• 2nd varna

• Made up of warriors – Ran the government and the army

Vaisya: merchant varna

Sudras• Lowest varna

• Manual laborers and servants– Had very few rights– Most people in India belonged to this varna

The Untouchables• One group of people who did not belong to

any caste• Called “the Untouchables”

– Collecting trash, skinning animals, handling dead bodies

• Very hard life– Most people thought living near an untouchable

was bad for them, so they lived apart from most of society

– Had to tap two sticks together when they traveled so everyone could hear them coming

Why was a caste system created?• Caste systems were probably created

because of skin color.– Aryans had lighter skin than the native Indians

(darker skin).

• Caste systems were probably created to keep the Aryans in power(1500-500 bce).– Because the Aryans had more people, they

made the caste to stay in charge of all the smaller groups.

– Could also control everyone’s behavior and make rules this way.

– Think Hunger Games (Districts)!

How did the belief in reincarnation/karma/dharma uphold the caste system?

• Three beliefs are necessary to understand why the caste system was so influential in India. – Reincarnation– Dharma– Karma

• Answer the four questions using your HW reading, Friday’s materials

• (10 min)

• Turn and talk with your partner and share your response to Question 5

• Share out with the class.