Hindu Caste System

Indus River Valley: Caste System & Family Roles

Mr. Mains

Multiple Choice

Review question: What was the name of the polytheistic religion that was influenced throughout the early settlers of the Indus River Valley

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Hinduism

• Confucianism

Objectives:

• To understand the definition of the caste system

• To understand the purpose and application of the caste system within the Indian culture

• To understand the roles and responsibilities of each family member

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the people of the Indus River Valley who began the caste system?

• Chinese

• Persians

• Aryans

• Greeks

• All of the answers

That is correct! The Aryans created the caste system

• The caste system was very much like a social structure in other civilizations

• However, there was one huge difference..

• What was that difference?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes what a caste system means?

• a social structure in which your status changes by how old you are

• a social structure in which you are born into and can not change

• a social structure in which your status only matters if you are immigrant

• all of the answers

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

• Sound like a great system?

Poll

How does this caste system sound so far?

• Sounds like a great idea!

• Sounds like a horrible idea!

Open Ended

What would be Aryan's intention or motivation to create a system like this?

Some of the reasons that the Aryans created the caste system:

• the people they had displaced (taken over) outnumbered them

• this helped the Aryans stay & maintain control since they were in the minority

• wanted to purposefully segregate people (enforces control)

• set the rules & expectations for everyone's behavior

Multiple Choice

Mesopotamia had 7 levels in their social structure. Egypt had 8. How many levels do you think the Ancient Indians had?

• 4

• 5

• 6

• 7

There were 5. Here is the order

• Brahmans: priests-only people who could perform religious ceremonies

• Warriors: ran both the government & the army

• Commoners: farmers & merchants

• Unskilled workers/servants: they had few rights & the majority of society was in this group

• Untouchables: what do you think they were responsible for?

Open Ended

The lowest caste was the Untouchables. Why do you think they were called this and what were their responsibilities?

The Untouchables were the lowest level of the caste system

• They performed all of the dirty work

• Responsible for skinning animals

• Responsible for handling the dead

• They were forced to live outside the city away from everyone else

• What would the purpose of creating a caste like this?

Open Ended

What would be the purpose of creating a level like this within the caste system?

Like it was mentioned before,

• The caste system was designed to keep people stuck in one caste

• However, Hinduism changed everything

• One of the beliefs within Hinduism, reincarnation, changed everything

• What does reincarnation mean?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes reincarnation?

• "circle of rebirth"

• the idea that you can be reborn into a new life

• your actions in one life determine your future

• all of the answers

That is right! 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

Multiple Choice

Which group in the caste system was drawn to Hinduism the MOST because of the possibility of a better life?

• Brahmins (priests)

• untouchables

• farmers/merchants

• unskilled workers/servants

Multiple Choice

Do you think the caste system still exists in India today?

• Yes

• No

The caste system does still exist today. It is much more broad and there has been some progressive changes.

• Laws have been put into place to not discriminate due to one's class

• Groups fight for the rights of each caste

• Job quotas must be filled

Family roles/responsibilites

• Overall, men are seen as superior to women

• This is unfortunately still the view today

• Men were the heads of the household, had more property rights and either went to school or became priests

• As always, your status gave you more opportunity (could have a guru-personal, often wise, teacher)

• Sons could inherit property

• Boys could only marry after they finished 12 years of schooling

Women/girls

• Were seen as inferior to men in pretty much all parts of life

• Any eduction for women was done at home-depended on their status

• Most marriages were arranged by your parents. What would determine who they would choose?

• Your status depended on who you were arranged to marry, not love

• Women were expected to cook (cuisine-spices) and traditionally wear a sari

• Weddings were, and still are, a big deal today (3-day event)

Poll

Arranged marriages are still the custom today. Would you want to be part of an arranged marriage?

• No

• Yes, especially if Mr. Mains gets to choose

Review

• The 5-level caste system of the Indus River Valley was meant to suppress and control people

• Reincarnation & the beliefs of Hinduism gave hope for change

• Men controlled the agenda of the family and your wealth often was a factor in determining your opportunities

• By listening to this presentation, you have agreed to have an arranged marriage but only if it is done by Mr. Mains. Thanks everyone! I will let you know......

Your task:

• Complete the Google Form on Google Classroom (9 multiple choice & 1 write in question). Short answer question will be marked wrong until it is graded.

• There were a lot of people missing their Mt. Everest worksheet. It is in Infinite Campus

• Also, there were a LOT that had no names so they were thrown out.