History - India: Caste System Flashcards
Who were the Brahmin?
The priests at the top of the caste system
- Provided spiritual guidance
- Didn’t usually have administrative roles
Who were the Kshatriya?
The warriors and kings in the caste system (second highest)
Who were the Vaishya?
The merchants, landowners and farmers of the caste system (third highest)
Who were the Sudra?
The artisans, servants, and labourers of the caste system (lowest)
Who were the Dalits?
- They were referred to as untouchables
- Were formed later on
- So low they were a ‘pollution to society’
- They were either a product of intermarriage between castes, or had a forbidden job
How was the caste system viewed in India?
It’s not just a way to structure society, but a form of social standing which came with prejudice
What defines which caste someone was a part of?
Not the occupation someone had, but whatever family they were born into
What happened to the caste system after the fall of the Mughal Empire?
- New rulers asserted themselves as kings (after Hindus defeated Mughals)
- British worsened the caste divide when they arrived by asserting it into their governance
Does this still affect people now?
India gained independence in 1947 and therefore removed the segregation that came with the caste system, but there is still prejudice despite the occupations changing and such.
