6.5.4 Outline the Social Structure of the Caste System
The Caste System
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The social structure in India was called the caste system.The caste system was a social class a person belonged to by birth. At the top of the caste system were the Brahmin and the Kshatriya ( KUH SHAT REE YUHZ ).The Brahmin were the priests,teachers,and judges who understood the spiritual laws that the people of ancient India believed governed the universe. The Brahman often lived apart from the rest of society in temples. The Kshatriya were the warrior caste who made everyday decisions and ran the government. Even though the Kshatriya had most of the power in everyday life, their decisions were to be overruled by the Brahmin.
The Vaishya were skilled farmers and merchants. They occasionally had leadership positions in local villages. The unskilled workers were of the Sudra caste. Members of the Sudras caste often worked on the farms of the people of higher castes.
Foreigners, lawbreakers, people from isolated tribes, and people suffering from contagious diseases were called the untouchables or "outcastes." Members of this caste were traditionally regarded as unsuitable for personal relations with people in the caste system. These "untouchables" had jobs or habits that involved "polluting activities" such as having a job that involved ending a life. Untouchables were hired to do work that members of the caste system would not do. These jobs included killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides. The untouchables also worked as sweepers, washers, or in other jobs that required contact with human emissions.
Untouchables were forbidden to enter temples, schools, and wells where caste members drew water. In some parts of India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting. The untouchables often even forced to sleep during the day and work at night.
The Vaishya were skilled farmers and merchants. They occasionally had leadership positions in local villages. The unskilled workers were of the Sudra caste. Members of the Sudras caste often worked on the farms of the people of higher castes.
Foreigners, lawbreakers, people from isolated tribes, and people suffering from contagious diseases were called the untouchables or "outcastes." Members of this caste were traditionally regarded as unsuitable for personal relations with people in the caste system. These "untouchables" had jobs or habits that involved "polluting activities" such as having a job that involved ending a life. Untouchables were hired to do work that members of the caste system would not do. These jobs included killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides. The untouchables also worked as sweepers, washers, or in other jobs that required contact with human emissions.
Untouchables were forbidden to enter temples, schools, and wells where caste members drew water. In some parts of India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting. The untouchables often even forced to sleep during the day and work at night.