1. ORIGINS OF
HINDUISM:
INDIAN SOCIETY
Social Studies for 8th EGB
Teacher: Mauricio Torres

2. BACKGROUND
 As the Aryans moved into India,
they developed a strict system
of social classes. As the
Aryan’s influence spread
through India, so did their class
system.
 Before long, this class system
was a key part of Indian society.

3. INDIAN SOCIETY DIVIDES
 When Aryan society became more complex, they divided
themselves into groups, according to people’s occupation.
 Strict rules were developed about how people could interact. With
time, they became more strict and central to Indian society.

4. THE VARNAS
 According to the Vedas, there were
four main varnas, or social divisions
in Aryan society (page 131):
 Brahmins: priests
 Kshatriyas: rulers and warriors
 Vaisyas: farmers, craftspeople, traders.
 Sudras: laborers and non-Aryans
 Harijans or Untouchables: people who
did not belong to any caste; they could
only hold unpleasant jobs.

5. BRAHMINS
 The Bramins were at the top,
because they performed rituals for
the gods. This gave them great
influence over other varnas.
 But they did not inly include priests:
they also included teachers and
scholars.
 This was because they dealt with
knowledge and spirituality.

6. THE CASTE SYSTEM
 Rules of interaction between varnas got stricter. They divided
Indian society based on a person’s birth, wealth or occupation.
 Castes determined a person’s place or role in society.
 But this was not permanent. Sometimes castes gained or lost favor as they
members gained of lost wealth and power.
 Rarely, people could change castes!

7. WOMEN
 Both men and women
belonged to castes.
 During the early Aryan
period, women had almost
the same rights as men.
 They could, for example, own
property and receive and
education.
 Over time though, laws were
passed, which limited these
rights.

8. UNTOUCHABLES
 By the late Aryan period, a
segment of early Indian society
had developed, which did not
belong to any caste.
 They were called the Harijans, or
Untouchables.
 They could only hold certain, and
often unpleasant, jobs.

9. CASTE RULES
 To keep their classes distinct, the Aryans
developed sutras, or guides, which listed
all the rules for the caste system.
 For example, people were not allowed to marry
anyone from a different class!
 It was even forbidden for people from one class to
eat with people from another.
 People who broke caste rules, could be
banned from their homes and castes,
which would deem them untouchables.
 To avoid this, people spent most of their
time with people of their own class.

10. ASK YOURSELF
 Recall:
 What were the four varnas?
 What is a caste system?
 Describe:
 What were some rules described in the
sutras?
 Explain:
 What would happen to someone who broke
the rules of the caste system?

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Burstein, S. M., & Shek, R. (2012). World History (Teacher´s
Edition) (1st Edition ed.). (H. McDougal, Ed.) Orlando, Florida,
US.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
 Ellis, E. G., & Esler, A. (2009). World History. (P. Hall, Ed.) Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey, US: Pearson Education INC.
 Images taken from www.google.com