Ancient India -- Social Structure

Multiple Choice

The mountains of northern India are called the

• Khybers

• Indus

• Aryans

• Himalayas

Multiple Choice

The tallest mountain peak in the world is:

• Mount Everest

• Mount Washington

• Mount Denali

Draw

Label the blank spaces

Multiple Select

The geography of the Indus River Valley includes:

• mountains

• rivers

• ocean

• beaches

Multiple Choice

What type of government has a king or queen in charge of it?

• Democracy

• Monarchy

• Socialism

• Dictatorship

Multiple Choice

What were kings called in Ancient India?

• Mister King

• Pharaoh

• Rajah

Multiple Choice

the rebirth of the soul

• nirvana

• reincarnation

• karma

• sutra

The Vedas

• Holy books (Hindu bible)

• Rules and laws

• Poems and Songs

• Mentions a Class system=Caste System

Multiple Choice

The books of the Hindu religion are called...

• Vedas

• Aryans

• Hindus

​Caste System

The system of dividing society into classes.​

​

The caste that someone belongs to is based on their wealth, occupation, and family background.

The caste system was a social structure that you were born into and it could NOT change

• This system dictated who you could:

• marry

• the type of job you would have

• with whom you could socialize

• where you lived​

​Varnas

There were four categories known as Varnas. Varnas consist of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.

​The Brahims

Top Caste: The Brahims: The top caste was made up of scholars, priests, teachers, judges, and landowners. They were know as the Brahmin caste or Brahmins. Many Brahmins lived in temples, removed from society. Others spent a great deal of time in contemplation and meditation. Some were quite social.

Brahmins:

UPPER CLASS

Highly Respected

• Priests

• Teachers

• Scholars

Multiple Choice

Can a farmer be a Brahmin?

• YES

• NO

​The Kshatriya

The Kshatriya: Kshatriyas were the warriors. Rulers of towns and cities mostly came from the Kshatriya caste. Any decision they made, however, could be overruled by a member of the Brahmin, the caste above them.

Kshatriya

• Rulers

• Warriors (army)

Multiple Choice

Can a SOLDIER be a kshatriya?

• YES

• NO

​The Vaishyas

The Vaishyas: Vaishyas were skilled farmers, merchants, and craftsmen. Vaishyas could hold office in village government. They might live in very nice houses. Even though they were three down on the social scale, they still had good clothes and ample food. They might not be the top leaders, but they were certainly a respected part of society.

Vaisyas

• Farm-owners

• Land-owners

• Merchants...business-owners

• Provide for the upper class

Multiple Choice

Can a TEACHER be a VASIYA?

• YES

• NO

​The Sudras

Bottom Caste: The Sudras: The Sudras were the unskilled workers. They might find a job on a farm or a non-skilled job in a home or business like cleaning. They were the bottom caste.

Sudras

• Lowest Caste

• Service-providers and workers

• Provide for the upper class

Multiple Choice

Can a SUDRA be a waiter?

• YES

• NO

​Dalit -- Untouchables

These were the people who were considered the lowest in society in Hindu India, so low that they were not part of the caste system. They had no rights. If they had a job at all, other than begging, it was a degrading job that no one else wanted to do. If your parent was at this level, so were you. They could not move up or marry out of their social rank.

​Dalit -- Untouchables

• Not even part of the caste system

• Do the dirty jobs in society

• Clean animal waste

• Other castes should not touch them

Poll

Would you want to be an Untouchable?

• YES

• NO

Multiple Choice

Your good or bad actions in this life is called your ___________________, you should always try to have the good kind.

• Karma

• Dharma

• Reincarnation

• Vedas

Reincarnation created a lot of hope for people in the caste system

• Your actions in one life was either a reward or punishment for the actions in your previous life

• One of the biggest draws to Hinduism by people in the caste system was the idea of reincarnation

• It gave hope for a better life, but you had to work for it --- Have good karma

Multiple Choice

Castes are social classes into which a person is born and but can move to different social classes by helping others.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

If a person has good karma, they may be reincarnated into a higher caste.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

How did a person become a member of a caste?

• They were born into it

• They got to choose their caste

• The Brahmins selected it for you

Hindusim & Social Structure

Early Hinduism viewed society as a sum of equal parts. The Vedas is described in 4 main parts:

- Brahmins (priests, scholars, and teachers)

- Kshatriyas (KSHA-tree-uhs) (rulers & warriors)

- Vaishyas (VIESH-yuhs) (merchants, artisans, and farmers)

- Shudras (SHOO-druhs) (servants & laborers)

Diwali

The Hindu new year is celebrated at the Diwali (dih-WAH-lee) festival. Diwali means "row of lamps."

The lamps are symbols of good (light) winning over evil (darkness).

Multiple Choice

The Diwali festival represents good winning over evil. Which of these is representing evil?

• light

• dark

Dharma

• Dharma is a central concept in Hinduism & other Indian traditions.

• Dharma is described as a duty, a way of life that helps people live happily.

• Each social class has its own duty. Duties include studying text, herding animals, trading goods, or serving as a warrior.

• If everyone follows their role, society would be in harmony.

Hindu Beliefs about Karma

• Karma is another belief Hindus share with other Indian traditions. it explains the importance of living according to dharma.

• The law of karma governs what happens to people's souls after death.

• It is believed that every action has consequences, and those consequences are felt over a number of lifetimes.

​Life in the Indus Valley

Buildings were built with mud bricks

​

Houses were big and small. Some had one floor and others had three.

​

Every home had a bathroom with simple toilets and showers. Clean water was brought in from wells in the street.​

Subject | Subject

​Life in the Indus Valley

The Indus Valley civilization was the biggest of its time and had many thousands of people living in the main cities.

​

The cities were built near the rivers.

​

Not all people lived in the cities, farmers, fishermen and traders lived in smaller villages outside of the cities.​

Subject | Subject