INDIA’S CASTE SYSTEMChapter 9: Ancient India

The Aryan Migration: Setting the stage for Hinduism and caste.

Some time around 1900 B.C. the people of the Indus Valley began to abandon or leave their cities.

There may have been a severe drought. Earthquakes and floods may have caused starvation.

Meanwhile, groups who spoke a similar language, called Aryans, migrated or moved into India.

Soon, a new civilization emerged (came into being).

POP Quiz: Lesson 1Complete on Page 62 of your Notebook. 1. Who were the nomads that migrated to

India?2. List some reasons why people might

migrate, or move from one place to another.

3. Has your family ever moved? Explain why you moved.

4. Did your move result in a better life? Explain why or why not.

Learning Targets:

I can discuss the significance of Aryan and other tribal migrations on Indian civilization. SS. 6.W.4.1

I can explain the major belief and practices associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and the caste system in ancient India. SS.6.W.4.2.

When you finish this lesson, you should have moved up on these Targets from the What’s the Target sheet in your Notebook:

India’s Caste System

What is a Caste? A social group that someone is born

into and cannot change Have you ever 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 will be your

friends Nobody in India calls

the system a caste- they call it a jati.

Many jati still exist in India’s society today.

Why was a caste system created? Caste systems were probably

created to keep the Aryans in power. Because the Aryans had more

people, they made the caste system to stay in charge of all the smaller groups.

The Aryans could also control everyone’s behavior and make rules this way.

The Districts in the Hunger Games were like a caste system—everyone was supposed to stay in their place!

Social Levels of the Caste System

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaisyas

Sudras

The four social classes of ancient India are called Varnas

(grouped into 4 main categories)

Brahmins(BRAH mihns)

Top Varna Most powerful Priests

Only people who could perform a religious ceremonies

Kshatriyas(KSHA tree uhs)

2nd highest Varna Made up of

warriors Ran the

government and the army

Vaisyas(VYSH yuhs)

3rd Varna Commoners Farmers,

craftspeople, and merchants

Sudras (SOO druhs)

Lowest Varna Manual laborers and

servants Had very few rights Most people in India

belonged to this Varna

The Untouchables One group of people did not

belong to any caste. Called “the Untouchables,”

they lived a very hard life. Collected trash, skinned

animals, handled dead bodies. Could not touch other Vedas

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.

Roles of Men and Women

Family was the center of life in ancient India. Grandparents, parents, and children all lived together. The oldest man in the family was in charge.

Roles of Men and Women (cont.)

Men had more rights than women.

Only boys could inherit property, go to school, or become priests.

Girls received education at home.

In wealthy families, boys were tutored by a guru at home. A guru is religious and spiritual a teacher.

Marriage Customs Boys had to go to school for 12 years and then they could marry.

In India, parents arranged marriages for their children. 90% of marriages in India

today are arranged.

AND GUESS WHAT? You could only marry someone in your caste.

Divorce was not allowed, but if the couple could not have children, the man could marry a second wife.

Burial Customs People in India were

cremated after death (burned in a funeral fire).

If a man from a wealthy family died, his wife was expected to jump into the funeral fire. This practice was called

suttee and was later outlawed in India.

If she did not do this, she would be shunned by community for the rest of her life.

Making connections: How are Hinduism and the caste system related?

Historians believe the caste system was brought to India by the Aryans.

Hinduism developed from the faith of the Aryans.

Over time, the Aryan religion changed as it blended with ideas of other people of India to create Hinduism.

Formative Assessment

1. What are the four Varnas of the caste system?2. Who did not belong to the caste system but was

below everyone?3. Who had more rights: men or women?4. How did Hinduism develop?5. On your G.R.A.P.E.S organizer write 1 full and

complete sentence about the caste system.6. On your G.R.A.P.E.S organizer write 1 full and

complete sentence about Hinduism.

Rate yourself on the Target Sheet:

I can discuss the significance of Aryan and other tribal migrations on Indian civilization. SS. 6.W.4.1

I can explain the major belief and practices associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and the caste system in ancient India. SS.6.W.4.2.