Ancient India Social Class Structure

India's Caste System and Timeline

Mr. LeBlanc - World History​

(​Indus River Valley)

Fill in the Blank

Review from yesterday:

"Strong seasonal winds that bring a dry season in the winter and rainy season in the summer" describes which vocab word?

Multiple Choice

"The belief that the soul is eternal and is reborn in different life cycles" describes which term?

• Yoga

• Karma

• Reincarnation

• Caste System

Quick Recap - Ancient India

• Time period of Ancient India is also known as the "Harappan period" or Indus River Valley Civilization".

​

• Ancient India developed along the Indus River, just like Mesopotamia and Egypt developed along rivers.

Caste System

​

​Untouchables: Lowest level of Indian Society. Jobs included collecting trash or dead bodies. Life was difficult and were treated inhumanely.

Caste System

​

​Untouchables: Lowest level of Indian Society. Jobs included collecting trash or dead bodies. Life was difficult and were treated inhumanely.

Sudras: Largest population of Indians. Most worked manual labor jobs and had limited rights in society.

Caste System

​

​Untouchables: Lowest level of Indian Society. Jobs included collecting trash or dead bodies. Life was difficult and were treated inhumanely.

Sudras: Largest population of Indians. Most worked manual labor jobs and had limited rights in society.

Vaisyas: Merchants and farmers. Lived challenging lives but more rights than Sudras.

Caste System

​

​Untouchables: Lowest level of Indian Society. Jobs included collecting trash or dead bodies. Life was difficult and were treated inhumanely.

Sudras: Largest population of Indians. Most worked manual labor jobs and had limited rights in society.

Vaisyas: Merchants and farmers. Lived challenging lives but more rights than Sudras.

Kshatriyas: Warriors and military leaders.

Caste System

​

​Untouchables: Lowest level of Indian Society. Jobs included collecting trash or dead bodies. Life was difficult and were treated inhumanely.

Sudras: Largest population of Indians. Most worked manual labor jobs and had limited rights in society.

Vaisyas: Merchants and farmers. Lived challenging lives but more rights than Sudras.

Kshatriyas: Warriors and military leaders.

Brahmin:

Leaders in

religious ceremonies.

Top position in hierarchy.​

Caste System

​

​Untouchables: Lowest level of Indian Society. Jobs included collecting trash or dead bodies. Life was difficult and were treated inhumanely.

Sudras: Largest population of Indians. Most worked manual labor jobs and had limited rights in society.

Vaisyas: Merchants and farmers. Lived challenging lives but more rights than Sudras.

Kshatriyas: Warriors and military leaders.

Brahmin:

Leaders in

religious ceremonies.

Top position in hierarchy.​

Open Ended

Which caste has the smallest population? Why?

Multiple Choice

If you were alive in Ancient India, how would your caste be determined?

• By how hard you worked.

• By your intelligence.

• By your physical strength.

• By the family you were born into.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

It was nearly impossible to change your caste.

• True

• False

Sujatha Gidla's "Ants Among Elephants"

As you watch the video, ask yourself:

1. What caste was Sujatha in?

2. How does Sujatha feel about her job in New York City?

3. Why does Sujatha have negative feelings about the caste system?​

Open Ended

How long did Siddartha Guatama live?