Ancient India: Caste System and Key Elements

Who brought the caste system to India?

Aryans

Name 2 major cities of Ancient India

Harappa and Mohengo-Daro

Social classes look at what?

Social classes look at how civilizations are divided into difference classes that have different roles, responsibilities, and privileges.

Reminders

Use the slideshow to review key characteristics of Harappa and major aspects of Ancient India, and there will be a short essay.

What are the differences in monsoons?

Winter monsoons bring dry air and moderate temperatures, and summer monsoons bring rain from the ocean and often cause flooding

Name each social class and who made up each social class.

brahmin: priest, Hindu gurus, and scholars; kshatryia: upper middle class consisting of kings and warriors; vaishya: business men, traders, and farm owners; shudra: servants and unskilled farmers; dali: laborers

Define varna

different social class in Ancient India

What is the caste system?

social group that you are born into

What is Dharma?

the religious and moral duties of an individual (shows people of each social class how to live their lives in the best way)

List key elements of the caste system

(1) one cannot move between classes (2) prohibited to marry outside of their varnas

Differences between the caste system and American society

(1) social classes in American society are often divided by race, gender, and wealth or lack of (2) we have the freedom to work in any field or reach our career of choice (3) there is movement between social classes

Similarities between caste system and American society

(1) struggle with power (who holds it) (2) upper and middle class, or a hierarchy that divides us (3) discrimination (4) enslaved people (5) access to or lack of access to resources

Which social class was referred to as untouchables?

Dalit

Ancient India was made up of what modern-day countries

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

Name 3 major rivers in Ancient India

Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges