Caste Systems
Caste distinctions first became prominent in Northern India following Aryan migration into the subcontinent. During the postclassical era, the caste system became securely established in Southern India as well. The postclassical era brought a series of political, economic, and social challenges to India's caste system. The caste system plays a crucial role in India in determining the class and status of not only its people but also migrants. The caste system adapted to the arrival of migrants and helped to integrate them into Indian society. For instance, as Turkish peoples or Muslim merchants pursued opportunities in India, they gained recognition as distinct groups under the "umbrella" of the caste system. They established codes of conduct both for the regulation of behavior within their own groups and for guidance in dealing with members of other castes. The caste system also accommodated the social changes brought about by trade and economic development. As merchants and manufacturers became increasingly important in the larger economy, they organized powerful guilds to represent their interests. Merchant guilds in particular wielded political and economic influence, since their members enjoyed access to considerable wealt
Economic development aided this process by encouraging commercial relationships between southern merchants and their caste-conscious counterparts in the north. The emergence of merchant and craft guilds in southern regions strengthened the caste system since guild members usually organized as a sub-caste. Powerful temples also fostered caste distinctions. Brahmins who supervised the temples provided the only formal education available in most regions and also served as centers of local social life. By about the 11th century C.E., the caste system had become the principle basis of social organization in Southern India. Muslim women in sub-Saharan Africa socialized freely with men outside their immediate families and they continued to appear and work openly in society in ways not permitted to women in other Islamic lands. Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa did not honor the same social codes as other Muslims. In a few societies upper class Muslim women wore veils and led secluded lives. Africans in kingdoms, empires, and city-states developed complex societies with clearly defined classes: ruling elites, military, nobles, administrative officials, religious authorities, wealthy merchants, business entrepreneurs, common people, peasants and slaves. In small states and stateless societies of sub-Saharan Africa, social structures were different. Small states often generated an aristocratic or ruling elite and they always recognized a class of religious authorities. However, outside the larger states, empires
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1026
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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