Society of Ancient India

What is the source of India's social hierarchy according to the text?

• The Upanishads

• The Vedas

• The Mahabharata

• The Ramayana

What was the purpose of the varnas in ancient Indian society?

• To create economic disparity

• To maintain an organized society

• To establish educational institutions

• To promote trade with other civilizations

Which of the following is NOT one of the four varnas mentioned in the text?

• Brahmins

• Kshatriyas

• Vaishyas

• Artisans

What were the Brahmins' roles in ancient Indian society?

• Merchants and landowners

• Laborers and servants

• Priests and intellectuals

• Warriors and rulers

What did historians originally believe about the varnas?

• They were a form of punishment

• They were based on skin color

• They were only used to divide responsibilities

• They indicated levels of education

What led to the decline in the influence of the varnas?

• Cooperation and unity among the groups

• Greed and power struggles within the groups

• External invasions

• Economic downturn

What is a jati?

• A religious text

• A type of currency

• A grouping based on job assigned at birth

• A form of government

How did families come to be identified over time in the context of jatis?

• By their religious beliefs

• By their wealth and social status

• By the jatis associated with their line of work

• By their geographical location

What did the four varnas evolve into?

• A rigid political system

• A set of laws

• Labels for people in different jatis

• A new religious movement

What factors determined one's place in the Indian caste system?

• Family lineage, wealth, and education

• Family lineage, wealth, and job

• Birthplace, wealth, and job

• Education, job, and marital status